Moody's Restores Nokia to Investment Grade, Citing Cloud and AI Demand
Published on 11/08/2026 at 19:02 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Nokia's long-term issuer rating and the rating on its senior unsecured debt were lifted from Ba1 to Baa3 by Moody's Ratings on Tuesday, a one-notch move that returns the Finnish network equipment maker to investment-grade territory. The agency kept its positive outlook in place, pointing to accelerating demand for cloud and AI infrastructure as the rationale. The upgrade applies both to Nokia as an issuer and to its senior unsecured obligations; the outlook, by contrast, was left untouched.
The rating action landed alongside a broader rebound in technology and AI stocks. Nokia shares rose 3.5% on Friday to close at €7.00. AP reported that AI names clawed back part of their losses, while Reuters described gains in chip stocks following the technology-driven selloff. According to media reports, the improved credit assessment also supported sentiment toward Nokia, though no single trigger for the day's move could be identified.
Hotwire Picks Nokia for AI-Ready Network in North Carolina
On the commercial side, Hotwire Communications has selected Nokia to build a next-generation network in North Carolina. According to Hotwire, the infrastructure is to be prepared for AI-based network architectures, with commissioning expected in early 2027. The contract covers IP networking technology along with data center and optical infrastructure — spanning more than one of those technical areas rather than a single piece.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Nokia?
Nokia had published its interim report for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2026 on October 22, reaffirming its full-year financial outlook in the process.
Traffic Forecast Extends to 2035
The longer-term backdrop comes from Nokia's global network traffic report. The company projects that artificial intelligence will account for 44% of global network traffic by 2035. Overall data traffic is expected to reach a monthly volume of nearly 3,789 exabytes. That figure refers to total worldwide traffic, not solely the AI-driven share. Both numbers are expectations drawn from Nokia's traffic report rather than measured values, and the forecast horizon sits well beyond the short-term trading picture.
Separately, a shareholding notification with an event date of September 30 shows FMR LLC and Abigail P. Johnson holding economic interest in 3.8% of Nokia shares. The mandatory disclosure documents the stake level but does not confirm a share purchase.
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