Telefónica and Nokia have announced a partnership aimed at leveraging 5G Standalone (SA) capabilities to enhance network APIs, thereby supporting developers in crafting innovative use cases for consumers, enterprises, and industrial sectors.
This collaboration will see Telefónica utilizing Nokia’s Network Exposure Function (NEF) to provide developers access to various advanced 5G network features. These include precise device location, improved notifications based on connectivity status, and edge discovery, among others. By accessing these capabilities, developers will be able to create new applications and advance the development of service APIs within the industry.
Nokia’s NEF solution adheres to 3GPP specifications and offers a streamlined process for interfacing with core network functions. It also supports API mashups, allowing developers to combine multiple core function APIs into customized APIs, simplifying the creation of new applications.
The partnership will benefit from Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which integrates networks, systems integrators, and software developers into a unified ecosystem. This platform provides a user-friendly interface for developers to incorporate advanced 5G capabilities into their applications without dealing with the complexities of underlying network technologies.
Since its launch in September 2023, Nokia has entered into collaboration agreements with 14 network operators and ecosystem partners across Europe, North America, and South America to utilize this platform.
Cayetano Carbajo Martín, Telefónica’s Core & Transport Director, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing the significant opportunity to empower developers with the necessary tools to deliver new use cases and experiences. He highlighted that this agreement is pivotal in developing new APIs and use cases over 5G SA capabilities across Telefónica’s main operations.
Shkumbin Hamiti, Nokia’s Head of Network Monetization Platform, noted the growing recognition of the importance of open ecosystems for fostering collaboration, enhancing customer experiences, and creating new revenue opportunities. He stated that the agreement with Telefónica exemplifies the increasing openness in the telco ecosystem, aimed at supporting developers in leveraging a broader array of network capabilities.
