Guest Lecture: The Path to 6G – Operators’ Perspective

Date: 6 May 2025
Time: 14:00-16:00 (EEST)
Location: University of Oulu, Finland (in-person event)

6G Flagship will host a guest lecture titled The Path to 6G – Operators’ Perspective, focusing on the evolving role of teleoperators in the transition towards 6G. The two-part session provides valuable insights into both technical and research-focused aspects of next-generation mobile networks.

Lecture Overview

Part 1 – Operators’ Road to 6G and Cloud-RAN
This session explores how mobile operators are navigating the transition from 5G to 6G. With an emphasis on network flexibility and sustainability, the lecture highlights the role of software-defined architectures, particularly Cloud-RAN, in enabling more efficient and scalable networks.

Part 2 – O-RAN: Why It Matters for Researchers
The second part of the lecture shifts focus to Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN). Attendees will gain an overview of O-RAN’s open interfaces and virtualised architecture, and hear how these developments support research innovation and flexibility in network management.

Speakers

Dr. Jarno Niemelä
Head of Mobile Access Technology at Elisa Finland
Jarno Niemelä leads radio access and spectrum development at Elisa, with expertise in network operations, automation, and the adaptation of emerging technologies. He brings a combined industry and academic background, having also worked as a Research Fellow and Lecturer at Tampere University of Technology.

Dr. Jarkko Kaleva
Senior Research Scientist at Elisa & Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oulu
Jarkko Kaleva focuses on open network architectures and advanced wireless communication systems. His background includes leadership roles at Nokia and ongoing collaborative work at the Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC), where he contributes to O-RAN development in real-world environments.

This session offers both students and professionals a clear perspective on the operator-driven transformation of mobile networks and the implications for research and innovation.