Nokia to Cut Most China Workforce, Close Sites by Year-End

Nokia, the Finnish telecoms equipment giant, plans to lay off most of its mainland China workforce and phase out site operations by the end of the year, according to sources. This marks a major retreat from a market where it once led, now losing ground to domestic rivals. The company had roughly 7,200 employees across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as of late 2025, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. An internal video conference from Helsinki earlier this month outlined the reduction, which will leave only after-sales support in China. A former Shanghai-based software testing employee, who left within recent weeks, received an "N+3" severance package—standard years-of-service compensation plus three months' pay. The total number of affected workers remains undisclosed.