Nokia stock gains as AI outlook points to network demand

Nokia said on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, that artificial intelligence could drive almost half of global network traffic by 2035. The forecast comes from the company's new Global Network Traffic Report, published in Espoo and carried by GlobeNewswire.

Nokia projects total network traffic will nearly quadruple from 2026 levels to almost 3,789 exabytes per month in 2035. AI is expected to account for 44 percent of that traffic, changing the requirements for networks that have traditionally been built mainly around downloads.

AI raises the demand for uplinks

The report distinguishes between traditional application traffic and newer workloads generated by autonomous agents, connected machines and physical AI. Nokia expects physical AI applications, including robots and vehicles, to generate more than 90 percent of their network traffic through uplinks by 2035.

Agentic AI traffic is projected to reach 160 times its 2026 level by 2035, while physical AI traffic is expected to reach 105 times its 2026 level. For network operators and equipment suppliers, the projections point to a more varied demand profile, ranging from large data uploads to continuous, real-time connections.

Nokia also expects data processing to become more distributed. Edge and metro-core infrastructure could handle 36 percent of all AI-native traffic by 2035, as lower latency, more efficient models and data-sovereignty requirements push intelligence closer to users and connected devices.

What the outlook means for Nokia

The report supports Nokia's strategic focus on connectivity infrastructure for AI applications, but it is a company forecast rather than a financial commitment or customer order. Its investment relevance therefore depends on whether operators convert expected traffic growth into spending on radio, fixed, IP, optical, core and data-center networks.

Nokia Chief Technology and AI Officer Pallavi Mahajan said networks would need to support machines that place new demands on uplinks and require real-time responses. She said network readiness should be central to AI planning, while Nokia is building distributed infrastructure intended to support the next phase of AI deployment.

The real-time quote of Nokia stock was 7.80 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 11:45 CET on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 2.09 percent above the Xetra close of Tuesday, November 3. The comparison uses the previous Xetra session because the Xetra market had not yet reached its closing time.

The Euro Stoxx 50 provides the broader European market backdrop for Nokia stock.

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