Mountain Connect 2024: Nokia's Network in a Box and the one thing most people get wrong about the company

On this episode of Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Mountain Connect, which is taking place in Denver, Colorado.

We talk with leadership at Nokia and discuss the company's movement into rural America, it's "network in a box" program, and the one thing everyone is getting wrong about the company.

Recommended Links:
Stefaan Vanhastel's LinkedIn
More about "Network in a Box"

Mountain Connect 2024 series
Opening episode
The Internet Equity Initiative and connecting the most remote, inhabited island in Michigan
The high-tech (and dangerous) broadband job that some say needs regulation now
Nokia's Network in a Box and the one thing most people get wrong about the company
Key partnerships, digital equity, and the Illinois Broadband Lab
BEAM's leadership on broadband expansion and accessibility across Mississippi
How BroadbandOhio is navigating BEAD

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:26 Getting to know Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia
• 1:11 About Network in a Box
• 2:19 Nokia in rural areas
• 4:11 Addressing misconceptions about Nokia
• 5:45 Global need for braodband
• 7:07 Stefaan's background
• 8:17 Speaking about Belgium
• 8:41 Coming to the USA
• 9:48 What Stefaan hopes comes out of Nokia's work
• 10:41 The importance of conferences
• 11:56 Conclusion + Outro

Transcript

Jessica Denson (00:08):

On this episode of Connected Nation, I talk with leadership at Nokia. We discuss the company's movement into rural America. It's networking, a box program, and the one thing everyone is getting wrong about the company. I'm Jessica Denson, and this is Connected Nation.

(00:26):

I am at Mountain Connect in Denver, Colorado, and I had the pleasure at lunch to sit by several of the gentlemen who are working for Nokia, and they suggested I talk to Stefan Von Hostel. I'm trying to get it right. Say it in your wonderful accent.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (00:42):

Stefaan Vanhastel. Oh,

Jessica Denson (00:43):

I love it. He's the VP of Marketing and Innovation for Nokia. Thank you for joining me.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (00:48):

Thanks for having me. Jessica. Yeah,

Jessica Denson (00:50):

First off, I can't ignore the accent. Where are you from?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (00:53):

I'm based in Belgium, but I spend a lot of my time on this side of the ocean, on this side of the ocean.

Jessica Denson (00:57):

I'm

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (00:58):

Lucky enough to spend most of my time on this side of the ocean.

Jessica Denson (01:01):

Did you just arrive today for Mountain Connect or have you been here a few days?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (01:04):

I've been here a few weeks. So last week I was at Fiber Connect in Nashville.

Jessica Denson (01:08):

Oh yeah.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(01:09):

And now Mountain Connect.

Jessica Denson (01:11):

So talk a little bit about what Nokia is up to right now. I know there are several things that are going on. I'm interested in the Network in a Box. Talk about that.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (01:21):

So Network in a Box is basically everything you need to connect your subscribers. If you're a community, a small community, you need the Palm Network, the access technologies, you need the in-home residential gateways, you need the routers and everything that goes with that. So Network in a Box is supposed to make that really simple for a small community to connect their people.

Jessica Denson (01:42):

And how does a community even learn about that or get involved with using that?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (01:49):

We're partnering with a lot of local partners. Obviously we've been in this business for a very long time. 70% of the fiber lines in the US are actually connected to Nokia equipment, to fiber equipment. We've been working with some of the larger operators in the us, some of the medium operators in the us, but now since a couple of years, we're actually starting to work a lot with the smaller communities as well, because some of the fastest moving and some of the most creative customers and operators that you can find. So it's actually a lot of fun.

Jessica Denson (02:19):

It's a lot of fun. I like to hear that. I know that rural areas, a lot of the smaller providers, that's where they focus. So is this kind of an new territory for Nokia to go into more rural areas or have you done that before?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(02:32):

We've done that before, typically maybe as part of larger network rollouts which have high density areas, dense areas, suburban areas, and then also rural areas. So I think one of the unique challenges here is that you have entire communities that are rural and remote. So I would say that's new, but that's why we are also partnering with local companies who have the expertise, who have the connections, who know what they're doing in these smaller

Jessica Denson (02:57):

Markets. And I love that you call it network in the box that just rolled out just in the last year. Right.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (03:04):

We're actually on version 3.00, okay. So we've been improving it over the past couple of years. For us, one of the important things is okay, it's not because it's a small rural network that it should be any less advanced than larger networks. So for us it's very important and we spend a lot of r and d efforts. Our Bell Labs teams spend a lot of research on evolving pump technology today. Well, the past 20 years we had two and a half gig G pump. Now in the US it's squarely ex pump 10 gig pump. We already have 25 gig available, and there's a couple of operators in the US who are deploying our technology. We've just shown that you can do 50 gig. That was with Google Fiber a couple of weeks ago. We've actually shown that you can do a hundred gig pump and that was with Frontier two weeks ago. But the real beauty is you can do all of that on the existing fiber network. So that fiber network that people are building, it's an investment that's going to last for a hundred years. Because fiber is glass, it doesn't corrode, and we are going to make sure that we keep increasing the speeds so that you can keep up for the next generations with whatever demand comes your way.

Jessica Denson (04:11):

Okay. Let's take a little step back and look at a higher level. Nokia as a company itself, explain to the average person, I've seen the name, I know the name, but you don't really work one-to-one, your business to business, correct?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (04:25):

Yeah. So when you say Nokia, most people still think smartphones, right? Yes. Not even smartphones, the phone company, but actually we got out of that business a long time ago. So we focus really on building the networks, mobile networks, and the fixed networks. We are market leader in many of those areas, but people don't see us. They know us from the telephones. So one of the things we had to do was actually make sure that people realize, hey, we are not a phone company. We built 70% of the fiber lines in the us. So that's actually a challenge that we had because that brand was so strong in the consumer space. But now it's B2B, either directly or through local partners.

Jessica Denson (05:09):

Were you around when that shift was made?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (05:11):

No. I can blame some other people. Some other people on those decisions. I've been in the company, well, and Nokia is actually Nokia, Siemens plus Al Lucent and Loosened was the Bell apps. So it's evolved. Yeah. So the access part of Nokia is actually the old Alka Lucin business,

Jessica Denson (05:34):

And I think a lot of Americans might think it's just something that's in America, but this is a global company. Talk about other places that you're in. Maybe some similar or new challenges in comparison to the US when it comes to connectivity.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (05:48):

Yeah. I would say a lot of regions are running into the same challenge. Globally, there's about 2 billion households, 1 billion them have fiber, so there's a billion left, the billion that's left, it's not the easy places. So all the easy places connected have been connected. So what's left is the remote areas, the rural areas, and everyone is running into that same challenge. There's regions that are further ahead, 90% homes passed, for example, New Zealand, Spain, but even they struggled with that last 10%. So at some point you need to connect the hard part. And I think one of the things that the US is really doing right is to make this a priority. And because everybody needs needs to have the same access to broadband, it's become critical.

Jessica Denson (06:38):

Why do you think it's so important?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(06:40):

It's just access to e-health to e-learning, especially if you're in these remote communities and medical help might be hours away, good schools, good universities might be in the next county or even further away. So this is where broadband can actually make a huge difference. Plus we all need to get those cat videos, right.

Jessica Denson (07:00):

Yeah. I need a cat video. I love cats. So talk a little bit about your background where you said you haven't been in Nokia since the chain, but you weren't there during the changeover. But talk a little bit about your background.

 Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(07:14):

So I've been in Nokia or alca, Lucin for about 20 years. Before that I worked at university in research. So I have a PhD in telecommunications, and then I joined alca Lucin at the time because they had bell apps and I went into research.

Jessica Denson (07:32):

Oh yeah. What kind of research you were doing? Telecommunication

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (07:35):

Research, tele telecommunication researcher. And then I discovered that I preferred translating technology into business cases rather than pure technology.

Jessica Denson (07:43):

So you really do have some excitement when you see that. When you say it's fun to go into rural areas, you mean that personally, you enjoy it? Yeah,

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (07:50):

Absolutely. Because these are areas where problems still have to be solved. I mean, if you talk to big, they're on the roll. They know what they're doing. They have all their challenges solved. Cities, suburbs, that's easy, but still work and it's hard work, but we know how to solve that. This is nice because you actually have to figure out new and creative solutions to connect people in the middle of nowhere.

Jessica Denson (08:17):

And you said you were from Belgium. Tell me a little bit about Belgium. What do Americans get right or wrong about the country?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(08:24):

Chocolates.

Jessica Denson (08:24):

Oh yeah, like chocolate beer. Oh, good.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (08:27):

French fries, which are really Belgian fries. It's a sore topic. And waffles.

Jessica Denson (08:35):

And waffles. Those are the things. Those are the things. It's all stuff that you can imbibe on.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(08:39):

Well, now that you pointed out,

Jessica Denson (08:41):

Yeah. What do you like about coming to the us? You said you've enjoyed it. You've been here for a couple weeks, you've been here before, I'm sure. Yeah. But what is it that moves you to come to work here too?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (08:55):

First thing that my wife and I spend most of our vacations here. The first thing that attracted us was the national parks.

Jessica Denson (09:01):

Oh yeah. They're beautiful.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (09:02):

Yeah. And this is just a brilliant idea. The best idea that anyone on the planet ever had was to protect these areas, right? It's just fantastic. Do you

Jessica Denson (09:09):

Have a favorite

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (09:12):

Denali?

Jessica Denson (09:12):

Oh, okay. Yeah. I know there is a push to get some of the national parks and the parks themselves are cooperating to get some of that connected as well. Do you think that's important just for tourism's sake? No, let's leave it.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (09:27):

I would leave it. Let's leave it. One of the things I liked, one of the things I like about Denali is you can go in and you tell everyone, Hey, don't try to call me. Don't try to

Jessica Denson (09:36):

Get a home. Yeah. I can imagine as the VP of marketing and innovation that at Nokia that everyone wants to get ahold of you at all times. Right? You feel that way. At least

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(09:46):

I feel that way at least. Yes.

Jessica Denson (09:48):

Okay. What do you hope comes out of programs like Network in a Box and just the work that Nokia is doing in general around the digital divide?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia(10:00):

Look, in the end, it is really, I like the fact I talked about the link between technology and the business case a few minutes ago, but I also like the fact that you're actually doing something useful for mankind, right? It's to borrow a quote from Star Trek, but it actually does make a difference. There's other regions where we are in South Africa, we're working with a company who is connecting the townships, for example. And if you see what a big difference the availability of broadband makes to communities that are underserved or unserved, you actually see that it does make a difference.

Jessica Denson (10:41):

What do you think the importance is of conferences like Mountain Connect or the Fiber Connect that you said you went to? Why is it important for broadband leaders and those in the industry to get together for these types of

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (10:52):

Things? So one thing I really like about conferences in the US is that you still have quality standards. And I hope none of my conferences in other countries who are going to hear this, but there's a lot of conferences that are paid to play, right? So if you're a sponsor and you put up the money, you're going to get X number of speaking slots. And it doesn't matter whether you are an expert or not, you're going to get your speaking slots. The content at US conferences is generally very good and man Connects in particular, just good content. And I would say it's too good because people spend time in there listening to the good content

Jessica Denson (11:31):

Instead out here with the exhibitors

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (11:32):

Instead of out here talking to, yeah, exactly. But it's good content and it's just, this is nontrivial, right? It's a massive investment. It takes years and it's so exchanging best practices, hearing how other people are solving problems is really important. This is what conference in the US typically do very well.

Jessica Denson (11:56):

What do you hope people take away and remember about Nokia? From our conversation?

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (12:02):

We're not a smartphone company.

Jessica Denson (12:05):

Oh, that is the way to end it. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, Stefan. Thanks. I'll let you handle your last name with your accent. Stefan. Fun host. Oh, that hostel. I love it. Thank you so much.

Stefaan Vanhastel, VP Marketing & Innovation, Fixed Networks at Nokia (12:17):

Thanks, Jessica.

Jessica Denson (12:25):

On the next episode of Connected Nation, I'll continue our coverage from Mountain Connect. Until then, I'm Jessica Sson and this is Connect to Nation. If you want to know more about us, head to connect to nation.org or check us out on all the major podcast platforms.