Analyst(s): Tom Hollingsworth
Publication Date: February 16, 2026
Telefónica and Nokia have launched a joint initiative to accelerate the adoption of Network APIs using advanced Agentic AI protocols, directly supporting the GSMA Open Gateway vision. By piloting Agent-to-Agent and Model Context Protocols, the companies aim to streamline network programmability and unlock new monetization models, signaling a pivotal shift for telecom operators and developers alike.
What is Covered in This Article:
- How Telefónica and Nokia are leveraging Agentic AI to accelerate Network API adoption
- The role of GSMA Open Gateway and industry-wide standardization in programmable networks
- Details on the Agent-to-Agent and Model Context Protocols piloted in the collaboration
- Competitive implications for other telecom operators, API platform vendors, and AI ecosystem players
- Key use cases, such as bank fraud prevention, are being tested in Telefónica’s AI-driven testbed
The News: Telefónica and Nokia announced a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of open Network APIs by leveraging Agentic AI protocols in support of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. The partnership is piloting two advanced protocols: Agent-to-Agent Protocol (A2A), which enables dynamic coordination among AI agents, and Model Context Protocol (MCP), which standardizes secure access to external tools and data . Initial development centers on a bank fraud prevention agent, using Nokia’s Network Exposure Platform and Network as Code to aggregate and expose Telefónica’s network capabilities—such as SIM Swap and Device Swap APIs—to developers in an A2A format. The companies plan to share their findings with the broader industry to foster standardization and ecosystem growth.
Is Telefónica and Nokia’s Agentic AI Push a Catalyst for Network API Adoption?
Analyst Take: The Telefónica-Nokia partnership marks a significant inflection point for the telecom sector’s transition toward programmable, AI-driven networks . By operationalizing agentic AI protocols and aligning with GSMA Open Gateway standards, both companies are positioning themselves at the vanguard of network monetization and developer enablement. This move has implications not only for their own ecosystems but also for competitors such as Ericsson, AWS, and Google Cloud, all of whom are racing to define the future of network programmability.
Agentic AI as a Catalyst for Network Monetization
The adoption of Agent-to-Agent and Model Context Protocols represents a strategic leap for telecom operators seeking to monetize their network assets beyond traditional connectivity. By enabling AI agents to autonomously discover, communicate, and orchestrate workflows across exposed APIs, Telefónica and Nokia are lowering the technical barriers for third-party developers and enterprise partners. This approach directly supports the GSMA Open Gateway’s mission to standardize and open network APIs, but it also introduces a new paradigm: the agent economy, where intelligent software agents can dynamically negotiate, compose, and consume network services. Competitors like Ericsson (with its Vonage acquisition) and hyperscalers such as AWS and Google Cloud are also investing in programmable network platforms, but Telefónica and Nokia’s early embrace of agentic AI could give them a first-mover advantage in defining monetization models and developer experiences.
Practical Use Cases and Ecosystem Implications
The initial focus on a bank fraud prevention agent, leveraging APIs such as SIM Swap and Device Swap, offers a concrete example of how agentic AI can deliver business value and operational efficiency. By using Nokia’s Network Exposure Platform and Network as Code, Telefónica can aggregate and securely expose these capabilities to application developers in a format that supports multi-agent orchestration. This not only accelerates time-to-market for new services but also demonstrates the potential for cross-industry applications—from finance to IoT and enterprise automation. As Telefónica and Nokia share their insights and best practices, the broader industry will be watching closely. Standardization efforts, developer adoption, and the emergence of new commercial models will determine whether agentic AI becomes a foundational layer for telecom innovation or remains a niche capability.
What To Watch:
- Adoption rates of Agent-to-Agent and Model Context Protocols by other telecom operators and API platforms
- Expansion of Telefónica and Nokia’s agentic AI use cases beyond fraud prevention into verticals like IoT and enterprise automation
- Progress of GSMA Open Gateway standardization efforts and their impact on ecosystem interoperability
- Competitive responses from Ericsson, AWS, Google Cloud, and other network API ecosystem players
- Developer uptake and new monetization models enabled by agent-driven network programmability
See the press release here: Telefónica and Nokia Collaborate to Accelerate Network API Adoption with Agentic AI.
Disclosure: Futurum is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum as a whole.
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