The two are to embark on pilot projects to accelerate and expand the use of APIs by developers in an ecosystem that includes Infobip and Elmo
Nokia and Hrvatski Telekom (HT) are to work on pilot projects that connect Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal to HT’s network assets. HT is part of the Deutsche Telekom Group and Croatia’s largest operator.
The aim is to enable developers to harness and monetise the operator’s 5G network assets and capabilities through new applications for consumer, enterprise and industrial applications for use by HT customers in Croatia and other parts of Europe.
HT is often a trailblazer for the wider DT Group pioneering new technologies – and DT is pushing hard to monetise APIs. For example, in September it and 11 other large telco groups from across the globe formed a joint venture with Ericsson. In November 2023, it announced MagentaBusiness API to charge developers and business customers for the use of APIs on its mobile network in Germany.
Nokia’s network of API ecosystem partners includes Infobip, which provides Communications Platform-as-a-sService (CPaaS), and Elmo, which specialises in teledriving technology. The plan is to leverage 5G and 4G networks to generate new revenue streams.
Working together
Nokia’s Network as Code platform offers developers APIs for using 5G network capabilities like Quality of Service on Demand. Infobip’s CPaaS provides developers with APIs for integrating real-time omnichannel communications like SMS, voice and video into their applications.
Through Hrvatski Telekom’s 5G network, Elmo will use Infobip’s communications API and Nokia’s Quality of Service on Demand capability for video connections to enable Elmo’s teledriving technology.
Teledriving is an emerging use case involving the remote operation of a vehicle via software, cameras and sensors. A human driver controls the vehicle to a destination point in situations where safety, accessibility or efficiency is a concern. Elmo has conducted remote driving tests successfully in Europe, some of which involved the human driver being hundreds of kilometres, and in some instance across national borders, from the vehicle.
Developers using Nokia’s platform can access 5G and 4G network capabilities through Software Development Kits (SDK) with provides support functions such like Network insights, Quality of Service on Demand and Device location.
Nokia has 27 partners in Europe, North and South America, and Asia which use its Network as Code platform, including BT, DISH, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Argentina as well as hyperscalers like Google Cloud, CPaaS platform providers, large system integrators and vertical independent software vendors (ISVs).
Boris Drilo, CTIO at Hrvatski Telekom, said, “Through collaboration on piloting projects, with Nokia and other partners, we are exploring the great opportunities that could arise from unlocking the full potential of connecting new platforms with 5G network capabilities. Ensuring high-performing networks, foundational for the launch of new use cases across industries and businesses not only Croatia but across the globe, is essential for developers in creating new game-changing applications.”
Matija Ražem, VP of Business Development, at Infobip, added, “Offering a simplified developer experience is key to making network APIs commercially attractive. The strong partnership between Nokia, Hrvatski Telekom and Elmo is yet another demonstration of how the growing ecosystem of APIs is producing tangible solutions for providers and end users. Infobip is playing a key role as a CPaaS platform by offering APIs to enrich the services available in the market.”
“Through tremendous collaboration with Nokia, Infobip, and Hrvatski Telekom, we are overcoming network challenges, such as peak time overload which can degrade video quality, to ensure the flawless connectivity required for remotely and securely operating Elmo vehicles, even during periods of high network traffic,” stated Enn Laansoo, Jr., Founder and CEO at Elmo.
Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services, at Nokia said: “With Nokia’s Network as Code platform and open and growing ecosystem of API partners, Hrvatski Telekom will benefit from having more choice, flexibility, and extreme automation to create new value for its customers. As a B2B technology innovation leader, Nokia is driving the next evolution of networking to unlock new network applications with our platform.”