Jan Uddenfeldt, Sonyericsson
Dr. Jan Uddenfeldt’s expertise and leadership drove the development of advanced wireless technologies that catapulted the cellular industry into the Internet and broadband era.
He played a key role in the development of standards that transitioned the industry from analog to digital, and is widely recognized for his contributions to the GSM standard. Recognizing the limited data capabilities of the early digital technologies, he continued to push technology development and promoted the globalization of wireless connectivity by pioneering work in the development of 3G and later to include LTE.
Over his 32-year career with Ericsson, which began in 1978, Dr. Uddenfeldt held a number of executive positions including CTO and VP for Ericsson Radio, CTO and Senior VP for the Ericsson Group, and Senior VP and head of Technology Strategies for the company. From 2010 to 2012, he served as CTO and Corporate VP at Sony Ericsson, now Sony Mobile. He is active as a senior advisor to both Sony and Ericsson as well as several startup companies in Silicon Valley. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Computer History Museum.
Dr. Uddenfeldt received his Ph.D. from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where he taught early in his career as a visiting professor. He also received an honorary Doctor’s degree from the University of Lund.
He is a Fellow of IEEE, and a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). He has been awarded several prestigious prizes for his achievements, including the German Edward Rhein Foundation Technology Prize for the innovation of GSM in 1997 and the Swedish KTH Prize in 2000 for GSM and 3G. In 2005, he received the Gold Medal from the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences for his contribution to the cellular industry.
In addition to his many honors and accomplishments in technology, he is also widely regarded by wireless executives who worked with him over the years as a creative leader with a willingness to explore and innovate. Jan was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame in 2014.