Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

So there is a lot of opportunities to improve there; so this is one thing. Then the other thing is then webscalers where we where we see a lot of traction. We are investing a lot in that in our R&D to not only increase our differentiation but also increase our added value. In relative terms so far in webscalers, we have been using a larger share of merchant components compared to tailored silicon. We are investing a lot in this development at the moment. And gradually, we target to increase our share also in conventional enterprise routing. Also, they are starting from larger enterprises where carrier grade quality, carrier grade flexibility and security is required. And the good thing for this is that, looking at how the data security demands are growing in these networks, there is a trend in demand towards more carrier rate equipment which is clearly supporting our growth ambition.

As I showed in that chart in the presentation, enterprise now represents 20% of our IP sales, while it was only 10% sometime ago. And this is, of course, a big difference when we compare ourselves to some of the key routing competitors that we have. They are much more enterprise driven and that is clearly the direction we also want to take in this business.

David Mulholland: We’ll take our next question from Simon Leopold from Raymond James.

Simon Leopold: Great. First, I wanted to discuss the longer-term expectations for operating margin. I think you’ve talked about getting 14% or higher. And I wonder if you could give us maybe a bridge sort of like what you have on your Slide 12 as to what are the primary elements that help you get to that in terms of issues like resolving your IPR issues, geographic mix, product mix. If you could help us sort of walk to that what gets you to 14% or higher.

Pekka Lundmark: Okay. Thank you. This is, of course, a very large question and it should — I mean it is worth a deeper discussion that is what is possible right here. But as a starting point, I would refer to the progress update that we provided in Q4 where we provided you with the aspirations we have for the operating margins across each of our businesses. So hopefully, that provides you with some context. But then in terms of the bridge, if I comment the four businesses just very briefly and then I’m sure that there is an opportunity to go deeper later. But in MN, we have already meaningfully improved our product cost and general technology competitiveness. And that is, of course, fundamental to all of this. And that has been clearly going to the right direction.

We are now receiving significantly better feedback from our customers compared to a couple of years ago. So now utilizing both the improved technology competitiveness and cost position. We have a clear ambition to gain market share and improve our scale and of course, remaining disciplined on cost. And these factors combined with the maturing 5G product with gross margins, typically improving as this each generation matures gives us a foundation for going after the double-digit margin target that we have for MN. In Network Infrastructure, we are very much focused on growth. We have strong product position, even in the challenging year we are seeing in 2023, as you can see from our margin assumption which is 12% to 14% after 12.2% last year.