Nokia sees double-digit fall in profit and sales due to weak 5G market

Wireless and fixed-network equipment maker Nokia has reported a double-digit fall in profit and sales in the second quarter due to a continuing weak market as clients hold off investments in 5G technology.

The Finland-based company reported a net profit of 328 million euros (£276 million) for the April-June period, down 20% from 409 million euros (£344 million) a year earlier. Net income attributable to shareholders was 325 million euros (£274 million), down from 410 million euros (£345 million) a year earlier.

Similarly to its Nordic rival Ericsson of Sweden, Nokia has suffered in the past year from operators cutting back on investments into 5G and other telecom technology because of economic uncertainty and high financing costs.

“Our financial performance in the second quarter continued to be impacted by the ongoing market weakness with net sales declining 18% year-on-year in constant currency,” Nokia chief executive Pekka Lundmark said in a statement.

The Finnish company is one of the world’s main suppliers of 5G, the latest generation of broadband technology along with Ericsson, China’s Huawei and South Korea’s Samsung.

Mr Lundmark said that the Espoo-based company’s sales would improve in the second half of this year, particularly in its network infrastructure business unit.

“Looking forward, we believe the industry is stabilising and given the order intake seen in recent quarters, we expect a significant acceleration in net sales growth in the second half,” he said.

But in Nokia’s mobile network unit, the biggest business entity during the quarter by sales, “the market dynamic remains challenging as operators continue to be cautious” of spending in 5G technology and equipment, Mr Lundmark said.