Nokia Global Network Traffic Report forecasts AI will drive nearly half of global traffic in 2035

Nokia forecasts a shift toward upload-heavy AI workloads and more processing closer to users and devices.

Rhea-AI Summary

Nokia (NOK) published its Global Network Traffic Report, forecasting that AI will drive nearly half of global network traffic in 2035. Nokia projects total traffic will nearly quadruple from 2026 levels to almost 3,789 exabytes per month by 2035, with AI accounting for 44%.

The report forecasts that physical AI applications, including robots and vehicles, will generate more than 90% of their traffic over upload connections by 2035. It also projects that infrastructure closer to users will serve 36% of AI-native traffic that year, although most AI traffic will remain within the central cloud. These forecasts point to changing requirements for upload capacity and real-time responses rather than disclosed Nokia sales or orders.

Key Figures

Projected monthly network traffic: Almost 3,789 exabytes (EB) per month AI share of network traffic: 44% Physical AI uplink traffic: More than 90% +4 more

Projected monthly network traffic

Almost 3,789 exabytes (EB) per month

2035; total traffic projected to nearly quadruple from 2026 levels

AI share of network traffic

44%

Projected share of global network traffic in 2035

Physical AI uplink traffic

More than 90%

Projected share of physical AI traffic traveling over the network uplink by 2035

Agentic AI traffic growth

160 times its 2026 levels

Projected for 2035

Physical AI traffic growth

105 times its 2026 level

Projected for 2035

AI-native traffic served by edge and metro core

36%

Projected share by 2035

FWA share of consumer cellular traffic

More than one-third

Projected by 2035

Key Terms

fixed wireless access, uplink, inferencing

3 terms

fixed wireless access technical

"fixed wireless access (FWA) will generate more than one-third of consumer cellular traffic"

Fixed wireless access is a way to deliver high-speed internet to homes and businesses using radio signals from nearby towers or rooftop equipment instead of running fiber or copper cables to each location. Think of it as getting broadband over a strong local Wi‑Fi signal broadcast from a neighborhood antenna. Investors watch it because it can speed customer growth and lower installation costs, but returns depend on coverage, equipment costs and access to usable radio frequencies.

uplink technical

"increasing demand for uplink capacity, low latency and distributed infrastructure"

An uplink is the communication path that sends data or signals from a ground station, device, or local network up to a satellite, central server, or larger network. Investors care because uplink capacity and reliability affect how well a company can transmit information, run services, or support customers—similar to how a highway’s condition affects traffic flow and delivery speed; interruptions or limits can hurt revenue, service quality, and growth prospects.

inferencing technical

"bring intelligence and inferencing closer to users and devices"

Inferencing is the process where a trained computer model uses new data to make a prediction, classification or decision, like a recipe being followed to produce a dish from available ingredients. For investors it matters because inferencing determines how well AI-driven products perform in the real world, how much computing power and cost are required, and can affect user privacy, regulatory exposure and a company's ability to scale or gain a competitive edge.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Press Release

Nokia Global Network Traffic Report forecasts AI will drive nearly half of global traffic in 2035

• AI traffic behaves differently than traditional application traffic, reshaping network requirements.
  
• Physical and agentic AI will be among the fastest growing network traffic categories increasing demand for uplink capacity, low latency and distributed infrastructure.
  

4 November 2026

Espoo, Finland – Nokia today published its Global Network Traffic Report, forecasting that AI will drive nearly half of global network traffic in 2035. The findings show networks will increasingly need to serve connected machines as well as people, with AI driving greater uplink demand, faster response times and more processing closer to users and devices.

By 2035, Nokia projects that total network traffic will nearly quadruple from 2026 levels to almost 3,789 exabytes (EB) per month, with 44% of that traffic driven by AI. The increasing adoption of autonomous AI agents and connected machines will challenge networks built primarily for downloads, increasing demand for upload capacity and real-time responses. Physical AI applications, including robots and vehicles that interact with their surroundings, are projected to generate more than 90% of their traffic over the network uplink by 2035.

Starting from a small base, agentic AI traffic is projected to reach 160 times its 2026 levels in 2035, while physical AI traffic is expected to reach 105 times its 2026 level over the same period. These projected workloads will require networks that support differing needs, from bulk uploads to continuous, real-time connections.

The report also forecasts a shift in where AI data is processed by 2035. While most AI traffic is expected to remain within the central cloud, edge and metro core infrastructure is projected to serve 36% of all AI-native traffic by 2035 as agentic and physical AI applications rise in prominence. More efficient models, low-latency requirements and data sovereignty needs are expected to bring intelligence and inferencing closer to users and devices, supporting a more distributed infrastructure known as the AI grid.

Beyond AI, the report projects that fixed wireless access (FWA) will generate more than one-third of consumer cellular traffic by 2035 as connections and usage grow, expanding cellular networks’ role in home broadband alongside mobile services.

Nokia's Global Network Traffic Report (2026–2035) uses a bottom-up model of consumer, enterprise and AI traffic. It combines application usage, connected-device activity and agentic workflows with third-party research, expert review and Nokia lab testing and insights to assess traffic growth and characteristics, network distribution and potential uplink constraints.

Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia: “AI is changing what we need from networks, not just how much traffic they carry. Networks built for traditional internet applications will increasingly have to support machines that place new demands on the uplink and require real-time responses. The next phase of AI will depend as much on the network as on compute. Network readiness must therefore be a central part of AI planning, not an afterthought. At Nokia, we’re building the distributed, AI-ready networks that make this next phase possible.”

Resources and additional information
Webpage: Nokia Global Network Traffic Report (2026-2035)

About Nokia 
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity infrastructure, enabling the AI supercycle. We build networks that connect intelligence and deliver a comprehensive connectivity solution across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core, and data center networks. With security by design, AI-driven innovation, and AI-optimized architecture, Nokia delivers trusted infrastructure that enables AI to scale and advances connectivity to secure a brighter world.

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FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How much global network traffic does Nokia forecast AI will drive in 2035?

Nokia forecasts AI will drive 44% of global network traffic in 2035. Total network traffic is projected to nearly quadruple from 2026 levels to almost 3,789 exabytes per month.

How fast does Nokia forecast agentic and physical AI traffic will grow by 2035?

Nokia projects traffic from autonomous AI agents will reach 160 times its 2026 level in 2035, while physical AI traffic will reach 105 times its 2026 level. Both categories start from a small base.

How does Nokia build its Global Network Traffic Report forecasts?

The forecasts use a bottom-up model of consumer, enterprise and AI traffic. The model combines application usage, connected-device activity and autonomous AI workflows with third-party research, expert review and Nokia lab testing and insights.

What does Nokia forecast for fixed wireless access traffic in 2035?

Nokia projects fixed wireless access, which uses cellular networks for home broadband, will generate more than one-third of consumer cellular traffic by 2035 as connections and usage grow.