Arctic Economic CouncilNewsNewsPresentations from the 2nd Top of the World Arctic Broadband Summit in Oulu

Presentations from the 2nd Top of the World Arctic Broadband Summit in Oulu

Wednesday June 14, 2017

Welcome & Opening Remarks

A booming technology environment at 65 degrees north, Oulu is considered a “living-lab” where the city residents experiment with new technology on a community-wide scale. What is the secret behind the development of a world-leading communications technology industry this far north? And how did Oulu manage this after the exit of Nokia and the loss of 2500 jobs?          

  • Ms Päivi Laajala, Mayor of Oulu.
  • Mr. Tero Vauraste, AEC Chair & Lapland ambassador; President & CEO of Arctia Ltd.
  • Mr. Juha Ala-Mursula, Director of BusinessOulu.

Panel 1: Connecting the Arctic through North-East and North-West – Can We Find Synergies?

Finland’s former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen’s recent report concluded that a telecommunications cable between Europe and Asia via the North-East Passage would be politically and technologically feasible. What would be the implications of a telecommunications highway between Europe and Asia for the development of the Russian Arctic, the Nordics or the European Union? Simultaneously there are plans to connect the North American Arctic to Asia and Europe. Do these initiatives support each other? How does improved connectivity affect the lives of those in need of quick data access (e.g. data centers)? And what would the future of the Arctic look like if the circumpolar Arctic was linked by cable?

Moderator: Ms. Suvi Lindén, Advocate for the UN Broadband Commission.

Highlight: NxtVn

  • Khaled Sedrak, Founder and CEO, NxtVn

Panel 2: Interconnected Arctic

 As broadband usage continues to skyrocket across the globe, communities without access to broadband will become even more isolated from the world, depriving them of the economic, social, civic, and political connectivity that is needed to prosper in the 21st century. Recognizing the different integration issues in the different parts of the Arctic, there is hardly one single solution that can fit all. How can different technologies best serve the remote areas of the Arctic? How can public-private partnerships promote the development of connectivity in the Arctic? And how can communities join forces and form cooperatives for the betterment of their region?

 Moderator: Mr. Matti Latva-aho, Academy professor, University of Oulu, Finland.

  • Mr. Robert McDowell, Chair, AEC Telecommunications Infrastructure Working Group & Partner, Law firm Cooley, USA (video stream).
  • Mr. Niels Andersen, co-chair, Arctic Council Task Force on Telecommunications Infrastructure & DTU Space Executive Board, Denmark.
  • Mr. Toni Lindén, CEO, KNL Networks, Finland. Find presentation here.
  • Ms. Maureen McLaughlin, VP of Public Policy Iridium, USA.
  • Mr. Ronald Van Der Breggen, CCO, LeoSat (USA/Netherlands). Find presentation here.

Departure for Site Visits

Nokia Networks and Technologies Oulu Site
Nokia is a global leader in shaping technologies at the heart of our connected world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, they serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers with the industry’s most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. From the enabling infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) to emerging applications in virtual reality and digital health, Nokia is shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. Nokia is a truly global company with 160 nationalities working in more than 100 countries.

Bittium
Bittium specializes in the development of reliable, secure communications and connectivity solutions leveraging its 30 year legacy of expertise in advanced radio communication technologies. Bittium provides innovative products and services, customized solutions based on its product platforms and R&D services. Complementing its communications and connectivity solutions, Bittium offers proven information security solutions for mobile devices and portable computers. From November 2016 onwards, Bittium offers its customers also healthcare technology products and services in biosignal measuring in the areas of cardiology, neurology, rehabilitation, occupational health and sports medicine. Net sales in 2016 was EUR 64.2 million and operating profit was EUR 2.5 million. Bittium is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Bittium presentation video.

Thursday June 15, 2017

 9:00                     Panel 3:  Visions for the Future
Even with the infrastructure status quo, the Nordic countries are among the most innovative in the world. What do future visions for improved connectivity in the Arctic look like, and how would new global connections impact the development of our region?  What might be the implications of the development for data centers and ICT businesses, for example?

Moderator: Khaled Sedrak, Founder & CEO, NxtVn.

Key note speaker: Mr. Karmenu Vella, Commissioner, Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission. Find the speech here.

Panelists:

  • Mr. Dag-Kjetil Hansen, CEO, Bredbåndsfylket Troms Ltd., Norway.
  • Mr. Tor Björn Minde, CEO, RISE SICS North, Luleå, Sweden. Find presentation here.
  • Mr. Bjørn Rønning, CEO, Midgaardsormen, Norway. Find the presentation here.
  • Mr Jorma Vartiainen, Head of Sales Programs for Europe, Nokia.

Highlight: Connecting the Arctic

  • Mr. Ole Øvretveit, Director, Arctic Frontiers, Norway.

Highlight: Arctic Connect

Panel 4:  Safe Arctic
Increased activity in the Arctic requires a strong focus on safety and connectivity. Using maritime transportation as a practical example, this panel of the program looks at the different solutions for connectivity in the Arctic waters. For example, how can connectivity best serve Search and Rescue operations or vessel tracking?

Moderator: Francis Uy, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, the Embassy of Canada to Finland.

Panel 5: Competent Arctic
How can new technology and improved connectivity serve the citizens of the Arctic? We take a closer look at practical examples of how improved connectivity can enable citizens in remote areas through the offering of new services. For example, what can we learn from already existing opportunities within e-Health and e-Learning?

Moderator: Mr. Markku Heikkilä, Head of Science Communications, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland.

  • Mr. Jarmo Reponen, Professor of Health Care Information Systems, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu.
  • Mr. Theo Cosmora, CEO, SocialEco, UK.
  • Mr. Kimmo Alaniska, Head of Healthcare, Nordics, Tieto, Finland. Find the presentation here.
  • Mr. Tony Azzarelli, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, OneWeb, USA. Find the presentation here.

 

Concluding remarks
Ms. Suvi Lindén, Advocate for the UN Broadband Commission.

Departure for Site Visits

PrintoCent Innovation Center
PrintoCent provides a world class design, development and manufacturing environment for Printed Intelligence having a special focus on Roll-to-Roll (R2R) and hybrid manufacturing and optical measurements for quality assurance. Offering examples include: pilot scale manufacturing trials; factory planning and construction, machinery selection; product technical design and device integration; production ramp-up support and quality and performance audits.

Currently, hot innovation areas around printed technologies can found from different lighting solutions, such as the Flexbright LED Foil implementation into the Pilkington windshields and other glass elements. Thus, creating Flex-in-Glass laminated intelligent solutions, providing lighting, display, sensor and user interface functions with IoT connectivity and services for public environments.

OuluHealth Labs (including presentation of Nordic Testbeds)
OuluHealth Labs provides a unique, integrated health test and development environment – including professionals’ feedback – for every phase of your R&D process. The doors of the OuluHealth Labs are open for innovative pilots that add value to patient care from home to hospital.