Exploring Digital Transformation and AI in Telecom: MDBM Students Visit Nokia Germany
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The visit opened with Andrea Oschgan and Detlev Otto outlining Nokia Germany's pivotal role as an R&D powerhouse, employing approximately 2,800 staff and driving advancements in fiber, IoT, and mobile infrastructure. They highlighted Nokia’s national leadership in 5G technology and their groundbreaking work with the 6G-ANNA research project—setting the stage for the next era of connectivity. The speakers noted Nokia’s strategic focus: delivering solutions for Industry 4.0, enabling sales and services, and partnering with industry, government, and science.
In the Digital Creativity Lab, Fabian Schlage, Karin Urbatsch and Annette Wolter guided students through live demonstrations that showcased how Nokia’s cutting-edge platforms—like the Nokia DAC—are optimizing enterprise digitalization. These demos explored the progression from established 5G deployments to current 5G Advanced solutions, which feature AI-driven network automation and efficiency. The team emphasized how AI/ML-enhanced networking is forming the backbone for future 6G capabilities, where AI is natively integrated to unlock new applications and services for industry.
The program continued with Wencke Kemper facilitating an interactive case study on technology adoption and digital transformation within Nokia. Students analyzed a real-world scenario where Nokia aims to harmonize global HR processes by replacing multiple legacy systems with a single digital platform for its 78,000 employees across 113 countries. Key topics included managing large-scale system integration, navigating country-specific challenges, overcoming employee resistance to change, and building effective transformation strategies.
Dr. Borislava Gajic’s talk delved deeper into AI/ML’s growing role in telecom. She illustrated how today’s networks—transitioning from 5G to 5G Advanced—leverage AI for energy savings, rapid network management, and resource optimization. The discussion then looked ahead to 6G, where AI will be an intrinsic part of the network environment, driving autonomous operations and radically new digital services.
The event concluded with Andrea Oschgan presenting Nokia’s wide-ranging career opportunities, emphasizing dynamic roles in a B2B context and highlighting Nokia’s commitment to diversity and innovative talent.
MDBM Students in a workshop with NokiaThe visit mapped directly to essential MDBM courses: Digital Business Models (telecom evolution and strategy), IT Management (development and deployment of private networks and IoT), Change Management and Leadership (change strategies in HR digitalization), and Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI/ML-driven telecom solutions). These intersections deepen students’ ability to manage transformative projects and evaluate digital solutions in complex, global contexts.
This excursion left MDBM students not only informed but truly inspired—directly experiencing how Nokia is at the forefront of redefining digital infrastructure, evolving from today’s robust 5G networks to the dazzling possibilities of AI-powered 6G. The depth of insights and real-world exposure made it clear: Nokia isn’t just a technology leader, but an exceptional partner for student positions, and launching a bold, future-ready career in digital business.
