Nokia is preparing to part with an industrial networking business serving nearly 900 customers just as sales to its AI and cloud clients are surging. The company disclosed a buyer but not a purchase price, leaving the value of its industrial wireless exit undisclosed even as it redirects investment toward data-center connectivity.
The Finnish equipment maker signed a definitive agreement for private-equity group Aurelius to acquire Enterprise Campus Edge, which provides private wireless networks, industrial devices, and on-site computing and software used for AI-powered automation. Nokia expects closing in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions.
ECE serves manufacturers, mines, logistics businesses, airports, ports, and power producers. Its systems process operational data locally, rather than requiring all information to be transmitted to external cloud infrastructure. Nokia says that arrangement supports data security and operational control.
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Analyst firm Inderes estimates ECE generates €80 million to €100 million in annual revenue and has been unprofitable under Nokia, according to a Finwire report.
The divestiture follows decisions that affected Nokia’s reported financials before Aurelius was named. Nokia put ECE under strategic review in November 2025 and classified it, alongside its Fixed Wireless Access customer-premises equipment business, as a discontinued operation during the second quarter of 2026.
In its July results, Nokia said the two operations together would have added €66 million to second-quarter sales and reduced comparable operating profit by €13 million had they remained in continuing operations. Those figures cover both businesses and cannot be attributed solely to ECE.
The accounting change also raised Nokia’s 2026 comparable operating profit guidance by €100 million on a presentation basis to €2.1 billion–€2.6 billion. Nokia said its underlying operating outlook was unchanged.
Meanwhile, Nokia’s Network Infrastructure division posted 12% year-over-year sales growth in the second quarter, and sales to AI and cloud customers rose 105%. The company reported €2.8 billion in AI and cloud orders for the quarter, reflecting stronger demand in that business.
Nokia’s restructuring has already produced another transaction. Inseego completed its acquisition of Nokia’s fixed wireless access business on October 1, leaving the Aurelius agreement as a separate pending divestiture.
Under the proposed transaction, ECE would operate as a standalone company under Aurelius. The buyer says it intends to expand into AI-powered industrial automation. Employees are expected to transfer after closing, subject to applicable consultation and local legal requirements.
