CUG 2026: From Conversations to Real Progress on the Autonomous Core
Having worked alongside telecom operators, particularly AT&T, for many years, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how quickly our industry is evolving. I’ve also learned that real progress does not happen in isolation.
That is why Nokia’s Core User Group (CUG) continues to stand out. This year, we held CUG in Munich in mid-May to accommodate growing demand. The turnout was record-breaking, bringing together a truly global mix of operators, enterprises, and partners. What struck me most was not just the scale of the event, but the diversity of perspectives and the shared urgency around where networks are headed next.
A place for real, working conversations
What I value most about CUG is that it does not feel like a typical conference. The conversations are grounded, practical, and candid.
Whether in a hallway discussion, breakout session, or deep-dive meeting, people show up ready to engage — not just to present, but to exchange ideas and challenge one another. Across plenaries, demos, and working sessions, it is clear that this is a forum built on participation.
From my perspective, that is where the real value lies: customers learn as much from one another as they do from us.
The Autonomous Core is no longer theoretical
If there was one theme that came through clearly this year, it is that the move toward the Autonomous Core is accelerating.
In conversations with operators, including the AT&T teams I primarily support, there is a clear shift from asking, “What’s possible?” to “How do we scale this?” and “How do we make this real?”
Across sessions on AI, automation, and cloud-native transformation, it is evident that operators are actively building networks that are more intelligent, more automated, and designed for resilience from the ground up.
Importantly, this progress is not happening in silos. It is happening through shared learning across the community.
Customers driving the agenda
One of the most powerful aspects of this year’s CUG was the level of customer leadership.
Through plenaries, panels, and especially the Think Tank sessions, operators had the space to openly discuss the challenges they are facing — from 5G evolution and AI enablement to security and monetization. The Think Tank sessions were customer-led and customer-driven. We wanted participants to collaborate, then come back to us with their collective feedback. It was extremely powerful.
These were not high-level conversations. They were grounded in real deployments, real constraints, and real decisions.
For me, that is what makes CUG so valuable: it connects strategy with execution.
Why ecosystem collaboration matters more than ever
Another takeaway that stood out is how critical the ecosystem has become.
Working with large operators like AT&T, I see every day that no single player can deliver the full solution alone. It takes tight coordination across vendors, cloud providers, and partners.
That spirit of collaboration was reflected throughout the event, from partner-led sessions to joint discussions and demos.
The message is clear: innovation at scale requires collaboration at scale.
And, of course, adding a little fun — including a visit to the world-famous Hofbräuhaus — once again made for a very memorable trip.
Looking ahead
As I reflect on the week, one thing is clear: the industry is moving with real momentum.
The path to autonomous networks is not a future concept. It is something operators are actively shaping today. The more we bring this community together to share, challenge, and collaborate, the faster we move.
That is what CUG enables, and why it continues to matter.
From where I sit, we are making meaningful progress. Just as importantly, we are doing it together.
