Espoo, Finland, 20 August 2025 – Nokia has secured the number one position for portfolio competitiveness in Omdia’s Market Landscape: Core Vendors – 2025 report, underscoring its growing strength in core network technologies and leadership in 5G Standalone (SA) deployments worldwide.
The annual assessment examined 11 leading core vendors, with Nokia receiving top scores across a series of critical categories, including cloud-native readiness, automation, core as a service, portfolio breadth, and the number of 5G SA core deals signed with communications service providers (CSPs).
Roberto Kompany, Principal Analyst for Mobile Infrastructure at Omdia, said: “Nokia has demonstrated exceptional capabilities across its core networks portfolio, particularly in areas that are crucial for CSPs’ future success. Nokia’s leadership in cloud native readiness, automation and core as a service, coupled with winning the most 5G Standalone core deals shows a deep understanding of where the market is headed.”
Expanding market leadership
Nokia has steadily grown its influence in the global core networks market. According to the report, the company now has 125 CSP customers for its 5G Standalone core, 54 of which had already launched live services by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
Recent customer wins include Ooredoo Qatar and Telefónica Spain, reinforcing Nokia’s position as the partner of choice for operators looking to accelerate 5G deployment. Analysts point out that success in securing major CSP contracts gives Nokia an advantage at a time when operators are seeking to modernise their core to handle the demands of next-generation connectivity.
Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said: “This industry recognition from Omdia confirms the impact of our multi-cloud strategy and continuous innovation in core network solutions. Customers are switching to Nokia at a rapid pace, especially in areas such as packet core, IMS voice and subscriber data management, and we expect even more growth as we continue to expand capabilities around security, automation and AI.”
Cloud-native innovation
The company’s cloud-native core portfolio has been highlighted as a differentiator, allowing operators to consolidate their 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and IMS cores within a single framework. This approach reduces reliance on fragmented infrastructure and enables faster rollout of new services in multi-cloud, highly automated environments.
The Nokia Core Networks offering spans cloud packet core, subscriber data management, voice core, analytics, charging, policy, signalling, and network exposure, alongside management, orchestration and care services. The platform is designed to support new digital services while providing security and scalability for CSPs managing growing traffic volumes and customer demand.
Industry analysts suggest Nokia’s early investment in cloud-native and automation capabilities has positioned it well against competitors, particularly as operators look to reduce costs and simplify networks. The ability to deliver full-core deployments on a unified cloud platform is expected to prove attractive for CSPs wary of integration challenges across multiple vendors.
Strategic significance
For Nokia, the Omdia ranking represents a validation of its strategic focus on multi-cloud flexibility, automation, and end-to-end security in its core portfolio. It also highlights the success of its “core as a service” model, which allows operators to adopt network functions in a more agile and consumption-based manner.
As 5G SA deployments expand, CSPs are increasingly turning to vendors with proven track records in scaling services, securing networks, and enabling monetisation opportunities through advanced features such as slicing and low-latency applications. Nokia’s dominance in the number of signed 5G core deals provides it with a strong foundation for continued growth as the industry matures.
About Nokia
Founded in Finland, Nokia positions itself as a leader in B2B technology innovation, combining expertise in mobile, fixed, and cloud networks. The company leverages intellectual property and long-term research, led by Nokia Bell Labs, which this year marks 100 years of innovation.
By promoting open architectures that integrate seamlessly into existing ecosystems, Nokia aims to help operators, enterprises, and partners deliver secure and sustainable networks while enabling the digital services of the future.