Nokia and Microsoft Partner to Build AI-Native Telecom Data Foundation

Nokia and Microsoft announced a partnership on September 17, 2026, to develop an agentic, unified data foundation for AI-driven telecom operations. The collaboration integrates the Nokia Data Suite with Microsoft Fabric, providing operators with a unified analytics and governance platform designed to reduce the time required to prepare and operationalize network data.

The integration aims to transition fragmented data environments into autonomous, AI-native platforms that support multi-vendor and hybrid cloud infrastructures. Initial use cases include predictive maintenance, geo-experience mapping to identify coverage hotspots, and autonomous Voice over New Radio (VoNR) assurance. The solution will also introduce AI-driven operational assistants to act as copilots for network engineers, offering automated workflow execution and contextual insights.

Following the announcement, Nokia shares rose 6.3% to 9.39 euros in midday European trade, contributing to a year-to-date increase of nearly 70%. The move aligns with Nokia's broader strategy to supply data-center infrastructure for AI deployment while maintaining its position in the traditional telecom equipment market.