{
  "id": 1711998,
  "title": "Nokia to close almost all sites in mainland China by year end, sources say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nokia-to-close-almost-all-sites-in-mainland-china-by-year-end-sources",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T13:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SCMP Tech",
    "slug": "scmp-tech",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3364425/nokia-close-almost-all-sites-mainland-china-year-end-sources-say"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Finnish technology giant Nokia is planning to wind down its mainland China operations by the end of the year, sources say. The company, which has been losing market share to homegrown rivals in the telecoms industry, announced the move during an internal video conference from its Helsinki headquarters. Nokia currently employs about 7,200 people in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with facilities in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. Only after-sales services would remain in China, marking a \"gradual exit\" from the market, according to sources.\n\nThe company has already shut down its research and development facility in Hangzhou, resulting in around 1,600 job losses. Employees in China will receive a \"N+3\" severance package, equal to three months' pay plus their years of service. Some staff have already transferred to Nokia's Finnish headquarters. The company's retreat from China accelerated after telecoms publication Light Reading reported the Hangzhou R&D site closure last week.\n\nNokia's China operations have been declining for years, with revenue falling from €1.84 billion in 2019 to €913 million in 2025. The company's share of group revenue dropped from 7.9% to 4.6% over the same period. Local competition from Huawei and ZTE, as well as government preference for domestic tech, have contributed to Nokia's struggles. Nokia entered China in 1985 and became a popular mobile phone brand in the 1990s, but its market position has weakened as 5G infrastructure develops in the country. The company is expected to complete the integration of its China operations by the end of 2026, with integration charges estimated at €350 million.",
  "summary": "Finnish telecoms equipment giant Nokia plans to cut most of its workforce in mainland China and close sites in stages by year end, marking a sweeping retreat after more than four decades as it loses ground to domestic rivals, according to sources familiar with the situation. One Shanghai-based source said teams in both Nokia’s mobile networks and network infrastructure businesses in mainland…",
  "key_points": [
    "Nokia plans to close mainland China sites by year-end",
    "7,200 employees in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan to be affected",
    "After-sales services to remain in China"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}