Nokia Celebrates 160 Years of Innovation

Nokia put it nicely on a social media network, it all started with a paper, but today they transformed the paper into the cloud of mobile networks.

Nokia on Twitter.

May 12, 2025, marks a remarkable milestone for Nokia as the company celebrates its 160th anniversary. Founded in 1865 by Fredrik Idestam as a paper mill in Tampere, Finland, Nokia has transformed into a global leader in telecommunications and technology, leaving a mark on the industry.

Nokia’s journey is characterized by continuous reinvention of the company and groundbreaking achievements. In the 1990s, the company played a pivotal role in the development of the GSM standard, with the world’s first GSM call made using Nokia equipment in 1991. The launch of the Nokia 1011 in 1992 marked the company’s entry into the mobile phone market, leading to a decade where Nokia became synonymous with mobile communication.

Beyond mobile phones, Nokia has been at the forefront of technological advancements. The company’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs (also a hundred years old company), has been instrumental in numerous innovations, including the development of the transistor in 1947 and the creation of information theory in 1948. These contributions have earned Nokia ten Nobel Prizes, underscoring its commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology.

Today, Nokia focuses on creating technology that helps the world act together. The company is a B2B technology innovation leader, pioneering networks that sense, think, and act. With operations in approximately 130 countries, Nokia continues to drive the digital transformation across various sectors.

Nokia’s current endeavors include leading the global rollout of 5G networks, developing cloud-native solutions, and exploring the potential of 6G technologies. The company’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its accelerated target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.

As Nokia celebrates its 160th anniversary, the company remains dedicated to innovation and collaboration. With a rich history and a forward-looking vision, Nokia continues to shape the future of technology, ensuring that it remains at the heart of global connectivity for years to come.

Now, the only thing we wish to see in the next 100 years, or at least in the next 10, is a propper Nokia phone :). Happy birthday Nokia!

For more information on Nokia’s history and current initiatives, visit Nokia’s official website.