Nokia offloads private 5G campus business to Aurelius
Nokia has agreed to divest its Enterprise Campus Edge division to Munich-based investment company Aurelius, with the transaction expected to complete in the first half of 2027 pending approvals. The unit serves close to 900 customers across manufacturing, mining, logistics, airports, ports, and power generation, and has roughly 1,000 employees plus more than €170 million in yearly revenue. The sale covers the DAC and MIXE portfolios along with industrial devices and software, and Nokia is expected to retain some RAN licensing rights; financial terms were not disclosed.
The buyer, Aurelius, is a Munich-based investment firm. ECE brings in over €170 million in yearly sales and about 1,000 workers, with main sites in Finland, Hungary, India, and the United States. Its roughly 900 clients span manufacturing, mining, logistics, airports, ports, and power generation. Staff are set to move with the unit.
The package covers DAC core network and MXIE edge compute offerings, industrial devices, on-premises OT edge and micro-edge systems, and industrial AI software. Nokia is expected, though not confirmed, to keep licensing private 4G/5G radios. It will still sell larger private core systems to utilities, defense, and railway customers. ECE and FWA were classified as discontinued operations in July.
The transfer may affect industrial connectivity users, workers, and suppliers. Customers in ports, mines, factories, and power generation could see service continuity if Aurelius invests, but may also face uncertainty as ownership changes. Employees moving with ECE may experience different priorities under private equity. The wider 5G ecosystem could benefit from continued private-network competition, though Nokia’s reduced role might slow some enterprise adoption. Regulators’ approval process may shape timing and conditions.