Nokia’s Investment grows R&D and manufacturing in three states to enable secure, AI-capable telecom networks
Nokia added a $4 billion plan to upgrade its AI-based network capabilities in the US.
The company will spend $3.5 billion on R&D work in the U.S as well as $500 million on manufacturing and capital expenditures.
The plan includes facilities in Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with Bell Labs in New Jersey overseeing work on AI automation, network software and product development.
The investment bolsters the nation’s ability to construct cheap, secure U.S.-made telecom systems independent of foreign suppliers.
It also complements federal initiatives to “onshore” critical network technologies in the face of increased demand for AI workloads, advanced connectivity and data-center-grade infrastructure.
Nokia is expanding in the United States at a time when telecom supply chains have come under pressure for geopolitical and competitive reasons.
CEO Justin Hotard, who came earlier this year, has highlighted deeper U.S. R&D commitments even as operators diversify sourcing and invest in AI-powered networks.
The United States doesn’t have a domestic telecom equipment giant which makes Nokia’s move notable for national industrial capacity.
