27.07.2007

Wireless communication from the top of the world

A phone call from Nokia brought Behnaam Aazhang from Switzerland to Finland over a decade ago.

Abercrombie Professor from Rice University leads a team at the Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC) in Oulu to develop a technology in self-organizing network topologies and operatorless radio access networks.

He observes that achievements particularly in mobile communications and related industries are direct results of synergy between Finnish industry and academia.

”Investment in Finland for academic research is outstanding while funding agencies promoting interaction with the industry is great!”

The research programme on 'Flexible Wireless Communication Systems' is conducted with Professor Matti Latva-aho , international expert on broadband wireless access. The research tackles cognitive radio technologies using frequency spectrum efficiently and reconfigurable software defined radio (SDR) platforms.

“Co-operative communication can meet the challenges of wireless system design,” Aazhang adds. Wireless communication involves better reliability and higher data rates. The applications include broadband wireless access solutions such as mobile phones and laptop computers, as well as short-range communication devices and body area networks.

“Pervasive wireless information access is a natural shift from wired landlocked connectivity,” Aazhang says.

Innovation and synergy pave the way for industry leaders

Today, Finland ranks first worldwide in access to wireless desktops while about 70 percent of the 5.3 million Finnish population currently uses wireless phones.

Home-grown success stories in technological innovations are not uncommon. ”Finnish companies opened the gates for innovation,” Aazhang cites.  ”Nokia, Polar, and Electrobits are industry leaders from Finland who embraced a global market.”

Aazhang observes that achievements in mobile communications and related industries are direct results of synergy between Finnish industry and academia. ”Investment in Finland for academic research is outstanding while funding agencies promoting interaction with the industry is great!”

Successful spin-offs, midnight sun, and winter sports

CWC has produced technology spin-offs from its strategic location in the northern city of Oulu, located 160 km south of the Arctic Circle, in the land of the midnight sun.

The centre’s pioneering research on Wireless Hospital and its hosting of a dynamic eLab (Embedded Communications Research Lab), among others, have rightfully cemented its reputation as an international hi-tech hub. Digital health, an exciting area for wireless communication systems, is fast gaining popularity due to the real time benefit of medical information being available to doctors and their patients.
 
Meanwhile, the American professor gets along well with 'quiet' Finnish engineers, admiring their 'diligence, efficiency, and perseverance'. Last winter, Aazhang easily drew enthusiastic participants to Kuusamo – a local skiing resort with frozen river edges – for a workshop on wireless communications.

Text: Sheila Riikonen
Photo: Pauliina Mustonen

Tulosta