Exploring the Impact of AI and Sustainability at MWC 2025: A Focus on Nokia's Innovation

AI-driven networks and sustainability were key themes at Mobile World Congress 2025. Nokia is one of the tech giants leading this shift in the tech industry.

Just a week prior, at their Analyst and Press Event (you can read my recap here), Nokia had laid out their vision for an AI-powered, sustainable future with bold announcements on AI-RAN and industry partnerships. They showcased new technologies and initiatives that underline their commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.

AI is The Driving Force Behind Next-Generation Networks

With only a few days before Pekka Lundmark steps down as Nokia's President and CEO, he kept sharing his wisdom during MWC. One of those golden nuggets was when he said, "Without trusted connectivity, we will not be able to reap the benefits of AI and Cloud." And don't worry, Lundmark will continue as Justin Hotard's advisor until the end of the year for a smooth transition.

Artificial intelligence in network operations is not new, it has been a recurring discussion in the industry for a while, but this year, AI is no longer just a concept, it is now central to real-world deployments.

Nokia showcased several advancements in AI-driven networks, including new applications for its AI-RAN platform, an area where it is already working with major telecom players like KDDI, SoftBank, and T-Mobile US.

Jitin Bhandari, Nokia's Chief Technology Officer for Cloud and Network Services, has mentioned that we are entering the "2.0 era of 5G," with AI emerging fast, and they want to make sure they are using new technologies in an impactful way. This is the reason why they are building this ecosystem of partnerships. To grow further together by leveraging AI

The relationship between Nokia and Nvidia to advance AI-driven network capabilities is one that I keep a careful eye on. Their strategic alliance focuses on using edge AI to improve real-time data processing and network responsiveness to make networks more intelligent and autonomous. I'm interested to see how the new AI capabilities will affect data processing in the future.

Beyond RAN, Nokia also highlighted its AI-driven security framework, which proactively detects and mitigates threats across telecom networks. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, so integrating AI into security operations is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Sustainability, More Than Just a Corporate Goal

While AI advancements dominated discussions (try to find an article that does not mention AI), sustainability was equally at the forefront of MWC 2025. The industry is under more increasing pressure than ever to reduce carbon footprints and optimize energy use. Aware of this urgency, Nokia used MWC to double down on its sustainability commitments.

Steph Delvoye, head of global product marketing for the Nokia Mobile Networks business group, says, "We have embedded energy efficiency across our full product and service portfolio, which helps our customers cut electricity costs, reduce carbon emissions and potential carbon compensation costs, and even unlock new revenues in energy markets."

Nokia's MantaRay Energy and CO2 Dashboard, an AI-driven tool for predicting energy consumption trends and detecting real-time anomalies, continues to shine. Operators are reporting a 25% reduction in electricity costs and CO2 emissions at the network level. By leveraging AI for more intelligent energy management, Nokia proves that sustainability and operational efficiency can go hand in hand.

Nokia's renewable energy initiatives have expanded further with the announcement of collaborations with major operators to convert network locations to solar and wind power. By 2040, Nokia hopes to have zero net emissions.

 Market Expansion

Nokia used MWC 2025 to highlight strategic partnerships and expansion plans. Nokia's growing presence in the data center market stands out as a segment it sees as a key growth driver. The company continues deeper integrations with Microsoft's Azure cloud services, reinforcing its push into AI-driven data center networking.

Nokia understands there is only so much you can do to expand in traditional markets when over 80% of customers are service providers. As Lundmark said, they are very committed to that sector, but looking toward the future, it does not leave much room for expansion, so they are working on growing in three different vectors outside of traditional markets.

One is data center investment; two is defense, because defense spending is going up around the world, and Nokia wants to offer a new generation of trusted networking solutions for military communications for the defense industry; and three is industrial digitalization, where they are offering their 5G Private Wireless and Edge compute platforms as a solution to maximize the safety and productivity of various industry verticals.

Also, think of the Infinera acquisition, which will put Nokia in the number two position in the world for Optical networks. It will enhance their position in North America, which was Nokia's weak spot.

The Future is Intelligent and Sustainable

In essence, Nokia is not just talking about AI and sustainability. It is taking action steps to implement what it is talking about. Their announcements reinforced a broader industry shift where AI-powered automation and energy-efficient networks are essential to progress.

The integration of AI into networks will redefine telecom operations in the coming years, enabling self-optimizing, self-healing systems that provide better performance while cutting operational costs. Meanwhile, sustainability efforts will make the telecom industry more environmentally responsible.

As I continue to discover how tech giants are leading by example and using their resources for good, we can all agree that the future belongs to those who embrace intelligence and sustainability in equal measure if we want to leave a legacy worth living for.

Nokia's showing at MWC 2025 suggests that it intends to be one of those companies leading the way.