Nokia Strengthens 6G Push with New R&D and Manufacturing Campus in Oulu
Nokia has officially opened a new research, development, and manufacturing hub in Oulu, Finland, a strategic move designed to strengthen its role in the global race toward next-generation 5G and 6G networks. The state-of-the-art site, nicknamed the “Home of Radio,” will unite researchers, engineers, and production specialists under one roof with a primary focus on AI-driven connectivity.
The campus, which was inaugurated on September 5, is set to host approximately 3,000 experts. It is engineered to cover the entire product development cycle, from early-stage testing and proprietary chip design to the development of hardware, software, and patents. Nokia stated that the site will also support critical work on 5G standardization and system-on-chip development. Furthermore, the on-site factory will handle the production of 5G radio and baseband products, ensuring the availability of secure, Europe-built networks.
Speaking at the launch event, Nokia President and CEO Justin Hotard emphasized that Oulu’s strong technological ecosystem—which links the company with local universities, startups, and NATO’s DIANA Test Center—makes it the ideal location for this significant investment. The overarching goal is to create an environment where new ideas in wireless technology can transition rapidly from concept to real-world deployment.
Sustainability was also a core component of the facility’s design. The campus operates entirely on renewable energy, and a heat recovery system will channel excess energy to help heat approximately 20,000 homes in the city of Oulu. Nokia has positioned this as part of its broader effort to pair cutting-edge innovation with environmentally conscious practices.
By providing both simulated and real-world network environments for testing, the campus is expected to give Nokia a competitive advantage in tailoring 5G and future 6G systems for the demanding requirements of AI applications. More broadly, the investment highlights Europe’s push for technological sovereignty at a time when fast, secure, and reliable connectivity is becoming central to the ongoing AI boom.
