HMD Global has confirmed an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement that will enable it to produce Nokia smartphones in 2017. Next year will see the Nokia brand return to the smartphone market, with a range of Android handsets.

Like Nokia, HMD is a Finnish company, although this is not the organisation that was responsible for products like the Nokia 3310 feature phone.

A key difference with the latest venture is that neither HMD nor Nokia will manufacturer the new Android smartphones. Instead, they will be made by FIH Mobile, which is a subsidiary of Foxconn.

There are nonetheless connections to the brand heritage, with HMD being staffed by former Nokia employees.