Kari Maikkola

Kari Maikkola, Head of Data Centre Solutions at Telia, leads a critical transformation within the Nordic telecommunications landscape. His career spans the entire evolution of the ICT sector, from the experimental era of new media in the early 2000s to the industrial-scale engineering of modern infrastructure. Kari oversees Telia’s commercial and public-sector data centre business. He defines his leadership by a philosophy that regards digital infrastructure not merely as a commercial service, but as a foundational utility akin to electricity or water, essential for "keeping society running" in a modern digital economy.

Under Kari’s guidance, the Telia Helsinki Data Centre in Pitäjänmäki has become the largest open data centre in the Nordic region. Telia opened the facility in 2018, investing approximately €150 million and providing over 30,000 square metres of technical space. However, Kari’s strategy goes beyond simple colocation. He promotes a converged approach in which Telia leverages its dual role as a network operator and a facility host. 

By integrating high-speed 5G networks directly with high-density compute, Telia creates a seamless ecosystem for clients. The synergy reduces operational complexity for enterprises, enabling innovative, low-latency deployments such as real-world testbeds at Helsinki Airport and the Mall of Tripla.

A cornerstone of Kari's tenure is the rigorous operationalisation of sustainability. Recognising that green credentials have shifted from a differentiator to a baseline market requirement, he highlights the facility’s integration into the circular economy. The centre operates using renewable energy sources including hydro, wind and solar. Its standout feature, however, is the capture of waste heat, which Telia redistributes into Helsinki’s district heating network to warm thousands of homes. Kari highlights that the efficiency is possible only because of the facility’s strategic urban location and he argues that the long-term sustainability gains outweigh the higher costs of city-centre real estate.

Engineering for the AI Revolution Currently, Kari navigates the facility through the disruptive rise of Artificial Intelligence. The exponential growth of AI workloads has meant a rapid shift towards liquid-cooling technologies to manage high-density GPU clusters. Telia is actively expanding capacity by 4 megawatts to meet the demand, hosting some of Europe’s first liquid-cooled setups for hyperscale AI. Kari acknowledges the engineering challenges inherent in the shift but insists that agility is non-negotiable. Telia has brought recent clients online within a month, demonstrating the facility's readiness for the fast-paced AI market.

Kari positions Telia as a bastion of digital sovereignty. During a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, he presents Finland’s stability and Telia’s comprehensive security architecture as vital assets. With a record of 100% availability since opening, Kari envisions absolute resilience. As data volumes grow exponentially and regulatory environments become more complex, he ensures that Telia provides a secure, sovereign environment that supports both national interests and international business ambitions.