Nokia Unveils "Home of Radio" in Oulu — Europe’s AI-Ready Nexus for 5G/6G Innovation

Oulu, Finland — Nokia has officially inaugurated its groundbreaking research and manufacturing campus in Oulu, dubbed the "Home of Radio", designed to anchor Europe’s leadership in next-generation, AI-powered wireless networks.

Spanning 55,000 square metres, the campus brings together research, testing, and smart manufacturing under one roof—an integration vital for the end-to-end development of 5G and future 6G technologies.

A Convergence of Innovation and Talent

• Around 3,000 experts from more than 40 nationalities will work on system-on-chip design, radio hardware and software, patents, and standardisation.

• The wider Oulu ecosystem includes OuluZone, a 350 km² field test area for large-scale network trials, as well as close collaboration with the University of Oulu, VTT Technical Research Centre, start-ups, and NATO’s DIANA test centre.

• The campus will also drive new product introductions for Nokia’s 5G radio and baseband platforms, including advanced Massive MIMO technologies.

Strategic Vision: Secure, Sovereign, AI-Ready Infrastructure

At the opening ceremony, President of Finland Alexander Stubb underlined the importance of the project:

“This investment is great news and a statement that it pays off to invest in Finland. When you’re working on 5G or 6G, you’re creating the neural network of whatever we do in artificial intelligence, robotization or the Internet of Things.”

Nokia’s President and CEO Justin Hotard added:

“Our teams in Oulu are shaping the future of 5G and 6G, developing our most advanced radio networks. Oulu embodies our culture of innovation, and this campus will be essential to advancing the connectivity that powers the AI supercycle.”

Sustainability at Scale

The facility is also a model of green innovation:

• Powered entirely by renewable energy.

• Houses one of the world’s largest CO₂-based district heating and cooling plants, with surplus energy used to heat about 20,000 homes in Oulu.

• Achieves 100% waste utilization and 99% CO₂ emission reduction compared to earlier operations.

Anchoring Europe’s Tech Ecosystem

Oulu has long been a hub for mobile innovation, with Nokia’s teams contributing to six generations of mobile technology. The city offers a strong talent pool of 25,000 students and more than 1,000 ICT companies, making it one of Europe’s most dynamic tech ecosystems. Oulu will also hold the title of European Capital of Culture 2026, strengthening its profile as both a cultural and technological powerhouse.

The campus is initially focused on 5G research—covering standardisation, chipset design, patents, and hardware/software development—while laying the foundation for the AI-native 6G era.

With this launch, Nokia makes a clear statement: the future of secure, sustainable, and AI-driven networks will be designed, tested, and built in Europe.