Nokia is collaborating with Bharti Airtel to integrate its network with third-party developers through the Network as Code platform. This partnership is set to offer developers, system integrators, and enterprises subscription-based access to Airtel‘s network APIs across India. This initiative aims to enable the creation of innovative solutions leveraging the network’s advanced capabilities such as AI, 5G, and edge computing.
The collaboration follows successful trials and presents new monetization opportunities through network exposure. The release points out, “Network APIs, which allow operators to virtualize parts of their networks and provide tailored data and features to developers, are changing the game.” There’s an expectation that this step will be pivotal in enhancing network capabilities and generating significant revenue.
Network as Code simplifies access to network functions for developers, bypassing complex underlying technologies. It connects multiple API ecosystems, providing operators various options to expose network functionalities. Currently, it partners with 60 organizations, including telcos and Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) providers.
Sharat Sinha, CEO of Airtel Business, stated, “At Airtel, we are always working toward bringing the ecosystem together to collaborate for future-ready innovations.” Arvind Khurana from Nokia highlighted that this partnership extends the Network as Code ecosystem, aiding telecommunications providers in monetizing network investments while driving community innovation.
Recently, Nokia also made its network APIs like Quality of Service on Demand, Number Verification, and Device Location Verification available via Google Cloud Marketplace. This allows developers to leverage Nokia APIs alongside its Network as Code platform, streamlining access to functionalities.
This collaboration demonstrates a significant step in telecommunications, focusing on empowering developers while unlocking new business avenues in an evolving digital landscape.
