Telefónica and Nokia have announced an agreement to explore new opportunities for 5G Standalone (SA) network APIs, aimed at supporting developers in creating innovative use cases for consumer, enterprise, and industrial customers. As part of this collaboration, Telefónica will utilize Nokia’s NEF (Network Exposure Function) solution to provide developers with access to its 5G network capabilities.
Nokia’s NEF solution, based on 3GPP specifications, enables developers to interface with well-defined functions in the core network, combining multiple APIs from different core functions into a new customized API. This simplified approach allows developers to create new applications that leverage the operator’s 5G network capabilities, such as precise device location, enhanced notifications, and edge discovery.
The collaboration also leverages Nokia’s Network as Code platform, a unified ecosystem that connects networks, systems integrators, and software developers. This platform allows developers to easily integrate advanced 5G capabilities into their applications, without requiring in-depth knowledge of underlying network technologies. Since its launch in September 2023, Nokia has signed collaboration agreements with 14 network operators and ecosystem partners worldwide.
Highlights
- Telefónica and Nokia are exploring the use of 5G Standalone (SA) network APIs to support developers in creating new use cases.
- Nokia’s NEF solution enables developers to access Telefónica’s 5G network capabilities, such as precise device location and enhanced notifications.
- The collaboration leverages Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which provides a unified ecosystem for developers to integrate advanced 5G capabilities into their applications.
- Nokia has signed agreements with 14 network operators and ecosystem partners worldwide since the launch of its Network as Code platform in September 2023.
Cayetano Carbajo Martin, Core & Transport Director, Global CTIO at Telefónica said: “We are pleased to take this step with Nokia in recognition of the tremendous opportunity we have to further empower developers with the tools they require to deliver new use cases and experiences for their customers and beyond. This partnering agreement is about steering the industry in building new APIs and more use cases over 5G SA capabilities that have been launched across Telefonica’s main operations.”
Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia said: “There continues to be a rising recognition that sustaining closed networks is a thing of the past and that embracing ecosystems is the way forward for deepening collaboration and creating new use cases; delivering better customer experiences; and generating new revenue opportunities. Our agreement with Telefónica is added proof of the much greater telco ecosystem openness that we are now seeing today and we look forward to jointly working to support developers in harnessing a broader array of network capabilities.”
The network API landscape is witnessing significant advancements, with major players like the Linux Foundation, GSMA, TM Forum, and MEF driving innovation and standardization.
- Recently, the Linux Foundation announced the availability of its LF Network API , a unified API framework that enables developers to access and manage network resources across different providers.
- TM Forum, a global industry organization, launched its APIs for Digital Services (DSS) initiative , focusing on creating standards-based APIs for service providers to expose their digital services to developers and businesses.
- Meanwhile, MEF is pushing forward with its LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration) initiative , aiming to create a standardized framework for network APIs that enables seamless service orchestration across different networks.
- The GSMA is also actively involved in shaping the future of network APIs through its CAMARA (Common API for Mobile Applications and Services) project . CAMARA aims to define a set of common APIs that enable mobile operators to expose their network capabilities and services to third-party application developers, accelerating the development of innovative mobile services.The GSMA Open Gateway initiative launched with eight network APIs in 2023 and has since continued to expand.