Pekka Lundmark returns to Nokia after two decades in Industry 4.0-target verticals
Pekka Lundmark, after spending two decades in roles ranging from managing partner of startup-focused VC firm to CEO of both an energy company and heavy equipment provider, returns to Nokia this week as president and CEO, taking over for Rajeev Suri. Lundmark previously worked at Nokia between 1990 and 2000, and, in keeping with 5G/Industry 4.0 themes established by Suri, discussed the role of telecom in digital transformation in a blog post.
“We stand at the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with 5G set to transform entire industries from health care to manufacturing, changing how we work and live, and giving us the opportunity to create economic prosperity and new jobs while caring more for our planet and improving the lives of people,” Lundmark wrote. Based on his experience leading Fortum and Koncranes, he noted firsthand knowledge of “embracing digitalization and continuing to innovate to stay ahead of the competition.”
Working with operators and directly with enterprises, Nokia has aggressively pursued opportunities around 4G and 5G private networks for vertical industries, the central premise of Industry 4.0. Last week, for instance, Nokia and Telefônica Brazil struck a deal with Brazilian mining firm Vale to provide a private LTE network to the open-pit Carajás Mine, the world’s largest iron ore mine, in the state of Para in northern Brazil. Vale wants its own cellular network to support autonomous drilling platforms and autonomous trucks, as part of wider Industry 4.0 capabilities.
The new private cellular network, upgradeable to 5G in the future, will increase productivity at the mine, improve worker safety, and also support communications between workers across the site. Vale plans to expand the technology to other mines currently using older WiMax solutions, said Nokia. The deployment is with Telefônica Brazil’s Vivo business unit.
In the blog, Lundmark called out digital health care, automated transportation, remote learning and sustainability. “Technology is a part of our everyday lives. The challenge now is against complacency and accepting the status quo,” he said. “The truly transformative power of widespread digitalization, industrial automation, the internet of things, and artificial intelligence have yet to be unleashed. Our networks and the connectivity we create will play a crucial part in driving forward all of those Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and more.”
