Nokia’s Network as Code platform aims to accelerate network programmability and monetisation
Nokia has introduced its Network as Code platform and developer portal that lets developers and telcos produce enterprise and consumer applications that the vendor hopes will help them make more money from their network investments.
Nokia said Dish Wireless – which runs the vendor’s 5G core network – would be the first network operator to support its new platform
Nokia’s move follows last week’s announcement by Deutsche Telekom (DT) that it will charge developers and business customers for the use of APIs on its mobile network in Germany. The API portal will run on the Vonage platform, owned by Ericsson.
The acceleration by vendors into building APIs is the latest manifestation of the telco’ desire to open their networks to developers. In an ideal world, all manner of AI-enabled apps will be distributed by edge networks, underpinned by highly automated networks to manage the complexity. These apps are going to need network APIs and NaaS services to run.
In reality, this stuff is hard: the TM Forum launched its open APIs in 2016 and are now up to Gen5. At least this latest version intended to dovetail with the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative, launched at MWC in February. APIs need scale and so further collaborations are likely.
Taking the standards route
For its part, Nokia’s Network as Code platform has been shaped using technical standards produced through industry initiatives such as the Linux Foundation CAMARA project and the GSMA Open Gateway initiative – Nokia is an active contributor to both groups. It will be offered as a revenue share model with operators and will be commercially available starting in December 2023.
Nokia’s platform and developer portal provide application developers with new tools such as Software Development Kits; Network API documentation, a ‘sandbox’ to create software code for use case simulation and testing; and code ‘snippets’ that can be included in applications, as well as developer analytics to track usage.
“The Network as Code platform and developer portal underscore Nokia’s strategic commitment to leverage the broader B2B digitalisation ecosystem. By making network programmability monetizable, this platform gives developers a meaningful way to create enhanced applications and experiences for their customers while providing CSPs a viable new pathway to utilize their 5G assets for enterprise and consumer value creation,” said Nokia president of cloud and network services Raghav Sahgal.
“This partnership is putting the telco industry one step closer to realizing Industry 4.0. Developers and CSPs can leverage the combination of Nokia’s Network as a Code platform with the DISH 5G Open RAN cloud-based network to create and monetize solutions for new use cases across both consumer and enterprise markets, opening the door for further enterprise innovation,” said DISH Wireless EVP global partnerships Marc Rouanne.