The technical world of tomorrow

If the image of a typical telecom company employee is an older engineer in a gray suit sitting behind a desk, it's way off the mark in the case of Shahab Lavasani. When this colorful 30-year old in fashionable glasses and brand-name jeans talks about his job you get a picture of a completely different company.

The mobile phone of the future will have far more functions than just talking or sending text messages. Video telephony, MMS, Internet, and location-based services are just a few of the features that are already on the way into our pockets.
- People don't talk much about standardization, even though it's enormously important and necessary to make the contents technically possible. A standard is a framework that allows the different parts of a system to work together, says Shahab.
Shahab Lavasani works in TeliaSonera's Research and Development department. His job involves standardization and mobile network solutions, with a specialty in 3G issues.

Strong international reputation

Standardization is carried out through an international forum that includes companies from the all over the world. TeliaSonera is a relatively small operator in this context but it has a good reputation for its technical expertise and it has been able to exercise considerable influence. One proposal that TeliaSonera managed to have included in the standard is Network Sharing, which means that several operators can jointly build and share capacity in 3G networks.

- When we learned that Telia hadn't received a 3G license, we had to find another way to offer our customers 3G services. We had to introduce a new concept, which we then had included in the standard," says Shahab proudly.

Today many operators have recognized the advantages of this concept. For example, major 3G operators in England will build their network according to the requirements that TeliaSonera worked into the standard, even though they have their own licenses.

Frequent traveler

Developing and pursuing standardization issues is a difficult job with many meetings and tough negotiations. The meetings usually last five days and the late nights are many. After regular meetings, the discussions usually continue in the hallways. Achieving a solution or reaching a compromise requires expertise and considerable diplomatic skills.

The job involves frequent travel all over the world. In 2002, Shahab traveled about once a month to destinations in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The day after this interview, he was scheduled to travel to South Korea, despite worrisome global conditions.
- I feel a responsibility and want to travel anyway, says Shahab and explains that when he is out he represents not only himself or his department - he also represent the entire TeliaSonera Group.

Learn about the world

You would think that someone who frequently travels on business might find it tiresome, but that is not the case. Shahab enjoys traveling even during his spare time. Once he is back from Seoul he repacks his bag and takes off for Sicily with his girlfriend.
- I love to see new places and experience new cultures. To see what people eat and drink, what they think is fun and what their values are, says Shahab.