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    Home5G & BeyondNokia’s platform aims to expand and simplify network API exposure

    Nokia’s platform aims to expand and simplify network API exposure

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    Vendor says the Network Exposure Platform (NEP) represents the “first implementation of GSMA Operator Platform”

    Nokia’s Network Exposure Platform is claimed to be the first implementation of the GSMA Operator Platform, The GSMA’s blueprint defines a common platform for exposing operators’ services and capabilities to customers and developers. The ethos is “connect once, connect to many models”.

    The first phase of the platform focuses on edge. Future phases will cover capabilities like connectivity, slicing and internet protocol communications (IPComms).

    Nokia’s NEP is designed for deployment with service providers’ networks and will support Linux Foundation’s CAMARA APIs, TM Forum’s Open APIs, edge-based and other APIs to connect networks securely to the digital, B2B ecosystem. Operators can use the platform to create new APIs and add to existing ones.  

    Nokia NEP complements and can be integrated with Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal. This, it says, aligns with the GSMA Open Gateway aggregator concept, providing a cloud-based platform to connect and monetise service providers’ networks with application developers around the world.

    The NEP expands and is designed to work closely with Nokia’s Network Exposure Function (NEF), another solution related to API exposure which is based on 3GPP specifications. NEF provides a process for interfacing with well-defined functions in the core network.

    It also enables API mashups, that is, combine multiple APIs from different core functions into new simplified APIs, which are easier to integrate with partners’ and customers’ channels.

    Existing NEF customers can upgrade to a combined NEF and NEP solution to simplify their API ecosystem.

    More federated approach

    Amy Cameron, Research Director at STL Partners, said,“Standardisation of APIs and aggregation across telcos will be crucial to scaling the network API opportunity”. She added that as well as developing their own direct models to monetise APIs, telcos must work towards a more federated approach with their peers and technology partners/aggregators as this stance will “drive initial developer engagement and adoption of network APIs.

    Cameron continued, “Nokia NEP can help telcos achieve this with tools to organise, control, and secure the way their networks integrate to developer ecosystems and platforms, ensuring choice and flexibility for customers in creating new network exposure use cases.”

    Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said,“Exposing and simplifying access to 5G and 4G network capabilities for channels connecting developers requires a sustained and collaborative effort by all industry players on a variety of technical fronts.

    “Nokia NEP is another meaningful part in that work of enabling operators to organize, control, and secure the way their networks integrate into developer ecosystems and platforms; and driving choice and flexibility for creating new use cases and value for the end customers.”