Nokia was once the top name people thought of when it came to mobile phones. Nokia’s durable phones and classic ringtones made it popular around the world. But after a few wrong moves, Nokia lost its place in the spotlight. You might not see Nokia phones everywhere anymore, but the company is still playing a big role, just behind the scenes.
Nokia shifted its focus from consumer gadgets to global infrastructure. From private networks to super-fast 5G infrastructure, Nokia is working with telecom giants to connect the world in new ways. The brand that once ruled mobile phones is now building tomorrow’s infrastructure behind the scenes, just not the way you’d expect.
The Golden Days: Nokia’s Rise to Mobile Market Dominance
Key Moments That Made Nokia a Giant
Nokia’s Downfall: Key Mistakes That Led to Its Fall
The “Burning Platform” Moment
Nokia’s Strategic Reinvention: From Collapse to 5G Leader
Nokia’s 2025 Business Focus: 5G, Sustainability & Licensing
What’s Next: Nokia’s AI, 6G, and Enterprise Vision
The Golden Days: Nokia’s Rise to Mobile Market Dominance
Before smartphones took over, Nokia was the reputed name in mobile phones. At its peak, the Finnish brand made more than 40% of all mobile phones sold worldwide. People praised Nokia phones for their toughness, user-friendly design, and long-lasting battery life.
People loved Nokia not just for how well the phones worked, but for the fun and familiar features they came with, such as the Snake game, the famous ringtone, and colourful, changeable covers. Phones like the Nokia 3310 became part of everyday life for millions.
Sakshi Jadhav
Key Moments That Made Nokia a Giant
- First GSM Phone – Nokia 1011 (1992): This was the first phone that used GSM technology, which later became the global standard for mobile communication.
- First Camera Phone – Nokia 7650 (2002): One of the earliest phones with a built-in camera, it let users take photos and send them to friends, a big deal at the time.
- Best-Selling Phone Ever – Nokia 1100 (2003): This simple, sturdy phone sold over 250 million units, making it the most sold phone (and even consumer tech product) in history.
Nokia’s Downfall: Key Mistakes That Led to Its Fall
Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone on January 9, 2007, a super sleek, touchscreen device that seemed to be a futuristic creation. But over at Nokia, the reaction was far from panic. The company was confident that its strong, reliable phones had nothing to worry about. After all, they’d ruled the mobile market for years.
What they didn’t realize was that everything had just changed. People were falling in love with smartphones, devices that offered not just calls and texts, but apps, the internet, and a whole new digital experience.
In 2008, Nokia tried to join the smartphone race with the N97, a phone that had both a touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard. On paper, it looked like a winner—it even had a 5-megapixel camera and GPS.
But in reality, it didn’t deliver. The screen was laggy, the software felt outdated, and users were left frustrated. What was meant to be a comeback turned into a flop—and Nokia was falling behind fast.
Devashish Shrivastava
The “Burning Platform” Moment
By 2010, things were going downhill quickly. Nokia’s new CEO, Stephen Elop, gave an internal speech that would later be called the “Burning Platform” memo.
In the speech, he compared Nokia to someone stuck on a burning oil rig: they could stay and be consumed by flames or take a risky jump into unknown waters to survive. That “jump” meant ditching their old Symbian OS and starting fresh.
Nokia made a bold move. They partnered with Microsoft and made Windows Phone their new operating system. It was a big gamble, especially since Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android were already way ahead.
Although Nokia released some innovative phones under this new partnership, they never really took off. By 2013, the company’s market share had dropped to just 3%, an unexpected fall for a brand that once ruled the mobile world.
Nokia’s Crucial Mistakes
- Delayed shift to touchscreen technology
- Continued using outdated software systems
- Missed the mark on building a strong app ecosystem
Nokia’s Strategic Reinvention: From Collapse to 5G Leader
By 2013, Nokia had hit rock bottom. Once the global leader in mobile phones, the company had been crushed by Apple and Android’s rapid rise. Their comeback phones failed to gain traction, and for the first time in over a decade, Nokia posted a loss. At that point, it seemed like Nokia was on the verge of collapse.
That’s when they decided to take a new direction.
In 2014, Rajeev Suri took over as CEO. Instead of trying to reclaim Nokia’s old glory in the consumer phone market, he asked a different question: “What does Nokia do better than anyone else?”
They stopped fighting for space in your pocket and started building the global tech backbone. From private 5G networks to enterprise solutions, Nokia is now connecting the world in ways most people don’t even see. Nokia, the former mobile giant, is now actively shaping the future of communication
Nokia’s 5G Strategy: From Smartphones to Infrastructure
Suri saw what others overlooked: 5G was going to change the way the world connects, and Nokia was in a strong position to power that transformation. The challenge? 5G was still in its early stages, and the competition was fierce. So Suri moved quickly:
- Cut unnecessary costs
- Doubled down on R&D
- Simplified decision-making across teams
The turning point came in 2015 when Nokia acquired Alcatel-Lucent for $16.6 billion. This deal unlocked a treasure trove of over 29,000 patents. The acquisition gave Nokia direct access to major telecom clients across the U.S. and Europe. Moreover, it laid the technical and commercial foundation for Nokia’s leadership in the 5G race.
Breakthrough Innovation: ReefShark
In 2018, Nokia launched ReefShark, a compact and energy-efficient 5G chip designed for high-performance networking. Nokia turned this engineering achievement into a major competitive edge. By launching ReefShark: a chip designed to meet the needs of energy-efficient telecom networks, Nokia appealed directly to sustainability-focused operators. This innovation, paired with its Alcatel-Lucent patent war chest, unlocked major deals across Europe and Asia.
The result? Over $20 billion in revenue by 2022 and a 29% share of the global 5G infrastructure market.
Marketing the Mission
To support its transformation, Nokia launched a focused branding campaign built around a clear idea:
“5G is the key to a better, more connected world.”
By 2024, it had signed over 300 5G deals with telecom companies worldwide, putting itself back at the heart of the global communication industry.
Nokia’s 2025 Business Focus: 5G, Sustainability & Licensing
- Business Solutions: Building custom 5G networks for places like factories and shipping ports.
- Earning from Technology: Making money through patents in areas like VR, smart devices, and healthcare.
- Going Green: Working to cut energy use in their networks by 50% by the year 2030
What’s Next: Nokia’s AI, 6G, and Enterprise Vision
Nokia’s story is all about learning to change. Once seen as a company that lost its way, it has found new success by focusing on network technology instead of selling phones. Now, with 6G on the horizon, Nokia is putting big efforts into AI-powered networks and edge computing. It’s a reminder that with the right mindset, even the biggest setbacks can lead to a stronger comeback.
Conclusion
Nokia’s comeback is more than a corporate revival; it’s proof that legacy brands don’t need to fight for attention to win. Sometimes, the smartest move is to step back from the spotlight and build the foundation of what’s next. By shifting its focus and staying open to new ideas, it found a fresh path forward. As the tech world keeps changing, Nokia’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to adapt. It’s a story that can inspire other companies to rethink, rebuild, and rise again.
Sushree Sangeeta Behera
FAQs
What was Nokia famous for in the early 2000s?
Nokia was best known for its durable mobile phones, long battery life, and iconic features like the Snake game, customizable covers, and the classic Nokia ringtone.
When did Nokia enter the 5G market?
Nokia began focusing on 5G infrastructure after Rajeev Suri became CEO in 2014.
What is Nokia’s ReefShark chip?
Launched in 2018, Nokia’s ReefShark is a compact, energy-efficient 5G chip designed for high-performance telecom networks.
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