Nokia CEO Justin Hotard: 'Communication networks are critical infrastructure'
The Nokia CEO wants to reposition the Finnish company for the AI era. In the interview he explains why Europe can no longer afford to delay on critical network infrastructure.
The transformation of Nokia is, for me, one of the most exciting stories in the telecoms market of recent years. A new CEO has been steering the company for about a year now – and conversations with network operators show: the change of course is working.
What it’s about
Justin Hotard, who took over the top of Nokia in March 2025, is not a classic telecoms manager. The American comes from Intel’s data-centre business and brings an AI lens to network infrastructure. We spoke at length on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – the photo was taken right after our interview. Hotard’s core thesis: communication networks are critical infrastructure and must remain European in character.
What has changed in a year
When I spoke with network operators in recent years, I kept hearing the same complaint: deep dissatisfaction with Nokia’s technology. Quality, performance, roadmap – much of it was criticised. That picture has noticeably shifted. Operators report markedly improved products and a clearer focus. Two strategic moves shape the new course: the $2.3 billion acquisition of Infinera and a close partnership with Nvidia, through which Nokia wants to integrate AI more deeply into networks.
Why this goes beyond Nokia
Hotard has a trauma in mind that has shaped Nokia for 15 years: the iPhone debacle. Back then the company didn’t see the smartphone revolution coming and was overrun by Apple and Samsung. This time it should go differently. Nokia is positioning itself as a vendor that bundles networks and AI platforms, not just hardware. With that, the company places itself directly against Ericsson and Huawei. Whoever supplies the German and European market also helps decide how independent Europe stays in its digital infrastructure.
What Europe must do
The Huawei debate will, in the coming years, take a direction. Some EU countries are pushing for an exclusion of Chinese suppliers from sensitive network areas; others fear rising costs. Nokia and Ericsson are the only European vendors in the high-performance class – and both want to fill the gap. Hotard urges speed: anyone who fails to invest now will be dependent in ten years. For Germany, with its strong industry and a dense network of mid-sized companies that depend on reliable communications, this is a question of economic sovereignty.
I conducted the full interview for Handelsblatt.