Telefónica and Nokia Agree to Promote Network APIs Utilizing 5G SA Functionality

Telefónica and Nokia have announced an agreement to jointly explore new opportunities for leveraging 5G independent (SA) network API functionality to support developers in creating new use cases for consumers, businesses, and industrial customers.

Through this protocol, Telefónica will utilize Nokia’s NEF for various purposes, allowing developers to access the carrier’s 5G network features, such as precise device positioning, enhanced notifications based on connection status, edge discovery, etc.

Accessing these features will enhance developers’ ability to build new applications and drive new service APIs for the industry.

Nokia’s NEF solution is based on the 3GPP specification and provides a process of well-defined functional interfaces with the core network. It also supports API mashups, so developers can combine multiple APIs from different core functionalities into a new custom API, making it easier for developers to use to create new applications.

Nokia’s network as a code platform brings together networks, system integrators, and software developers into a unified ecosystem, providing developers with a simple way to integrate advanced 5G features into their applications; No need to explore the complexity of underlying network technologies.

Nokia has signed cooperation agreements with 14 network operators and ecosystem partners in Europe, North America, and South America, and will launch the platform in September 2023.

Cayetano Carbajo Martin, Global CTIO Core and Transportation Director at Telef ó nica, said, “We are pleased to take this step with Nokia and recognize that we have a huge opportunity to further provide developers with the tools they need, new use cases and experiences for their customers and others. This collaboration agreement aims to guide the industry in building new APIs and more use cases on the 5G SA features launched in Telefonica’s main business.”

“More and more people are realizing that maintaining a closed network is a thing of the past, and embracing the ecosystem is the way forward to deepen cooperation and create new use cases; provide better customer experiences; and create new revenue opportunities. Our agreement with Telef ó nica further demonstrates the openness of the larger telecommunications ecosystem we see today, and we look forward to working together to support developers in leveraging a wider range of network functionalities,” said Shkumbin Hamiti, head of Nokia’s network monetization platform, cloud, and network services