- EIB lends Finnish telecommunications company Nokia up to €870 million for research into next-generation mobile technologies
- Loan to support Nokia work on systems known as 5G-Advanced and AI-powered 6G
- Backed by InvestEU, financing to strengthen Europe’s strategic telecoms position
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending up to €870 million to Finnish telecommunications company Nokia to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies for mobile networks. Nokia will use the EIB financing for work on systems known as 5G-Advanced and 6G, reinforcing Europe’s technological leadership in mobile communications.
The EIB loan will support Nokia’s research and development in radio access networks, covering both hardware and software. These technologies are key to boosting the performance, energy efficiency and cybersecurity of mobile systems. They also lay the groundwork for integrating artificial intelligence in future 6G networks. The project helps retain high-skilled jobs and critical intellectual property within Europe.
“Nokia’s innovations in 5G and 6G are key to Europe’s digital future,” said EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer. “By supporting this R&D programme, we are helping to secure strategic autonomy in next-generation network technologies and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in a critical sector.”
Headquartered in Espoo, Nokia is a global leader in fixed, mobile and cloud network technologies, with operations in more than 130 countries and over 78,000 employees. The company invested €4.5 billion in R&D in 2024, representing 23% of its annual revenue.