Nokia’s outgoing CEO Pekka Lundmark responded to speculation around the U.S. government acquiring a stake in the company, during Nokia’s press show for the Mobile World Conference (MWC) Barcelona 2025.
While Lundmark said that he wouldn’t be commenting on whether Nokia has had talks with the U.S. government, he added that they “collaborate with governments, including the U.S. government,” and their presence in the U.S. was “incredibly significant,” though Europe also remained vital.
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Nokia, a Finnish multinational telecommunications and consumer electronics company known for its innovations in mobile networks, 5G technology, and infrastructure solutions, was founded in the 19th century as s a pulp mill before evolving into a global telecommunications giant.
In the United States, Nokia has a strong presence, providing network equipment and services to major telecom operators like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
“We would hope for cooperation between Europe and the United States, as it truly benefits everyone involved. But if that doesn’t materialize, we’ll need to address both markets independently,” Lundmark added in his remarks. He also responded to the ongoing situation with tariffs. “Obviously a global tariff war would not be to anyone’s benefit,” he said, adding that “nobody really knows what’s going to happen” in terms of trade.
With research and development centers across the U.S., including in Texas and New Jersey, Nokia continues to drive advancements in network technology, cybersecurity, and cloud solutions for the U.S. market. Lundmark said that while he is proud that Nokia is headquartered in Europe, the U.S. was its second home.
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This comes shortly after Lundmark announced his decision to step down as Nokia CEO. “It wasn’t an easy decision to step down, but I feel it is the right time for me to move on,” he said via Linkedin, after being in the position for five years. Lundmark would be reportedly succeeded by Justin Hotard, the current head of Intel’s Data Center and AI group. Lundmark noted the company initiated the transition process when he expressed a desire to move to a role as a board member. He will remain with Nokia in an advisory role until the end of 2025.