The telecom space is going through a big shift, with 5G, Open RAN, and AI data center demand all pushing network spending higher. Global 5G connections hit 2.8 billion in Q3 2025, with 162 million added in that quarter alone, while the Open RAN market is now worth about $6.5 billion. At the same time, copper wiring is hitting its physical limits inside AI data centers, which is making optical networking more important as data traffic keeps rising.
Nokia (NOK) is right in the middle of that story. On April 13, the stock surged to a new 52-week high of $10.48, extending its rebound after Bank of America analyst Oliver Wong upgraded the stock from “Neutral” to “Buy” and called Nokia’s $2.3 billion Infinera deal a major turning point for its optical networking business.
