AT&T taps Ericsson for $14 billion network revamp, ousting Nokia

Ericsson AB won a $14 billion contract to modernize AT&T Inc.’s wireless network, agreeing to build an open network that can be supplied by a number of vendors and beating out its longtime rival Nokia Oyj.

The contract, which will let AT&T choose vendors that supply its antennas and infrastructure going forward instead of locking the U.S. carrier into a single relationship, marks a “strategic industry shift,” Ericsson said in a statement on Monday.

The funds will be paid out over five years and focus on upgrading AT&T’s infrastructure for 5G technology.

It was a major blow to Finnish rival Nokia, whose shares tumbled 10% on Tuesday in Helsinki trading.

The company said the news will delay its plans to reach double-digit operating margins by as much as two years. Ericsson currently supplies two-thirds of AT&T’s network and Nokia accounts for the other third.

The contract illustrates the contrasting fortunes for an industry challenged by low returns and a telecommunications industry reluctant to make major new investments in its networks.

Ericsson and Nokia were competing for the AT&T contract for an open radio access network, which is more cloud-friendly and allows more vendors to contribute than previous, heavily integrated solutions.

AT&T’s investment comes amid a global slump in 5G spending among telecommunications operators.

Western interest in OpenRAN was fueled after governments moved to ban Chinese giant Huawei Technologies Co. infrastructure and sought to promote a more competitive mobile technology ecosystem beyond the two Scandinavian firms.

“The announcement shows that Ericsson’s market-leading technology and expertise are crucial in the shift to OpenRAN,” Cevian Capital AB managing partner Christer Gardell said. “An important step for Ericsson’s long-term growth.”

Nokia Chief Executive Officer Pekka Lundmark called AT&T’s decision “disappointing.” AT&T accounted for 5% to 8% of Nokia’s Mobile Networks net sales so far this year.

The open architecture model allows more flexibility in the network, Chris Sambar, executive vice president of AT&T Network, said in an interview. “You get more creativity.”

Having a number of suppliers can boost flexibility, lower costs and avoid reliance on non-U.S. vendors classified as security risks such as Huawei, according to US officials.

AT&T, America’s No. 3 mobile provider, said the new network will let it “quickly capitalize on the next generation of wireless technology.”

Benefits include lower-power, sustainable networks with higher performance, the company said in its statement.