Nokia supplies network equipment to all four Indian telecom operators and runs a large manufacturing plant in Chennai. India is also its biggest employee base, with major research centres in Bengaluru and Chennai and delivery centres in Chennai and Noida.
What India does for Nokia
India is the largest workforce base for Nokia, combining its biggest R&D centre in Bengaluru, a Chennai factory that exports over 40 percent of its output, global delivery centres and supply to all major Indian telecom operators.
Investment and deals
Nokia had invested more than Rs 3,800 crore in India by 2024, including more than Rs 1,200 crore in its Chennai factory.
Nokia's India business
Nokia set up its Chennai factory in 2008 on a 140,000 square metre site and has invested more than Rs 1,200 crore in it. The Chennai plant was the first factory in India to start 5G New Radio production, in 2018.
More than 40 percent of the telecom products Nokia makes in India are exported. Bengaluru is the largest Nokia research centre globally, with more than 8,000 staff.
Nokia had more than 17,000 direct employees in India in 2024, its largest workforce worldwide.
Key moves in India
- 1995: Nokia equipment carried the first GSM call in India.
- 2008: Nokia set up its telecom equipment factory in Chennai.
- 2018: The Chennai plant became the first factory in India to start 5G New Radio production.
- 2022: Nokia introduced 5G in India as commercial services launched in October.
- 2023: It opened a 6G lab at its Bengaluru R&D centre in October.
Where it operates
Nokia runs its India business from Gurugram. It also has a presence in Noida, Bengaluru and Chennai.
At a glance
- Home country: Finland
- Global headquarters: Espoo
- Sector: Infrastructure & Data Centres
- Business: Telecom equipment
- Role of India: Sales market, Manufacturing base, Export base, R&D and engineering hub, Global delivery and operations
- India head office: Gurugram
- India offices: Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Chennai
- India headcount: 17,000+ (2024)
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