Professional skills are put to the test in challenging problem situations

The management and monitoring of radio networks and the analysis of different problem situations are what 28-year-old Petri does for a living. He works as a Network Management Specialist at TeliaSonera and considers that the most challenging aspect of the job is understanding the behaviour of the different parts of the radio network in problem situations. Petri was awarded a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineerng (Telecommunications) in 2003.

Originally, I joined TeliaSonera for a summer job, and also did my graduation thesis for them. I started with a summer job in 2000 at Primatel, a company then owned by Sonera, and the next year followed my friend's advice and applied for a summer job at the radio network control centre. I have now been working at TeliaSonera's radio network control centre for a couple of years, initially while still studying and now full-time after receiving my degree.

The job primarily involves the management of GSM, GPRS, EDGE and UMTS in TeliaSonera's radio network, network monitoring and the diagnosis of various problem situations. Another essential element of my job comprises various expansion, dismantling and modification jobs, as well as modifications to the network elements database. My primary working partners outside TeliaSonera are YIT Primatel and Digita.

What I most like about my job is that it is challenging and interesting. Good workmates are of course also a bonus.

The most demanding part is to achieve comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the operation of mobile networks and their different elements - particularly in challenging problem situations.

The knowledge gained through education in the Polytechnic provided a good foundation, but at the end of the day, only actual work with different technologies and related matters provides the practical experience. One must not forget, however, that skills require constant updating.

TeliaSonera supports me in developing my professional skills through various courses and training opportunities. In addition to this, I would like to use my own initiative to extend my knowledge of Information Technology, and in particular of the many possibilities of Telecommunications. I enrolled in the University of Helsinki to study Computer Science. This gave me an opportunity to complement my Polytechnic degree with a university-level degree.

The main difference between studies at a University compared to a Polytechnic is the fact that you have greater personal responsibility for planning your own curriculum. You can take more extensive courses in secondary subjects if you wish - and select the subjects in support of your major subject more freely.