The News: Nokia introduced its Network as Code platform and developer portal aimed at enabling application developers and communications service providers (CSPs) to accelerate software application production for new enterprise, industrial, and consumer use cases and to monetize 4G/5G network assets beyond basic connectivity. Commercial availability starts in December 2023. Read the full press release on the Nokia website.
MWC23 LV: Nokia Debuts Network as Code to Spur App Innovation
Analyst Take: Nokia launched its Network as Code platform and developer portal to accelerate network programmability and monetization by providing simplified network capabilities to developers as software code that can be integrated into applications. The move reinforces Nokia’s strategy of powering new business models that can unlock network innovations including sustainability, collaboration, and productivity improvements.
The Network as Code launch aligns with the ushering in of software-based 5G networks, a tectonic shift from the hardware-oriented designs of pre-5G networks. As a result, Nokia is targeting broader adoption and integration of application programming interfaces (APIs) and other software tools that take advantage of network programmability by providing access to immersed functionality and data within networks. This approach can play an integral role in enabling application developers to swiftly build new capabilities and use cases that are fully aligned with customer priorities.
Specifically, the 5G capabilities and use cases include areas such as network slicing, edge cloud, and quality on demand plus advanced capabilities that Nokia identifies as not requiring 5G networks for availability, such as device and subscriber status and billing. In addition, I expect other advanced capabilities, such as policy control, home network prioritization, traffic prediction, and SIM swap, as well as 5G-exclusive capabilities, such as traffic breakout and high-accuracy location, to gain more traction.
Across the mobile ecosystem, I see established and emerging use cases that can be assigned to existing and emerging API demand categories encompassing Industry 4.0, transport/logistics/mobility, security and authentication, immersive CX, healthcare, and smart buildings. Such use cases are fueling the shift toward use case-based service chains that use data processing across edge clouds.
To tap into such capabilities, Nokia’s Network as Code platform and developer portal provide application developers with new tools such as software development kits (SDKs), network API documentation, a sandbox to generate software code for use case simulation and testing, and code snippets that can be included in applications and develop analytics to track usage.
Nokia Serves a New Network as Code DISH
Nokia and DISH Wireless have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on an ecosystem project that can enable enterprises to develop applications using advanced mobile and 5G network capabilities. From my view, the partnership can help catalyze broader enterprise use and developer support of 5G network programmability features by providing access to software development tools that support advanced network traffic controls, quality of service (QoS) management, and access to use information such as location and device status.
The DISH MOU accords with Nokia’s extensive Network as Code development work with the CSP community including five CSPs that have already onboarded, eight CSPs that are in the process of onboarding and are expected to join by the end of 2023, and up to 30 CSPs by the end of 2024. Nokia’s offering is based on a revenue share model between developers, CSPs, and Nokia. Notably, the Nokia Network as Code platform has been developed in accordance with the Linux Foundation CAMARA project and GSMA Open Gateway initiative.
Key Takeaway: Nokia is demonstrating the broad ecosystem support key to making network programmability and API-driven innovation integral to CSP 5G monetization objectives and progress. As a result, I believe the Nokia Network as Code platform and developer portal can deliver the much-needed catalyst to ensure CSPs play an instrumental role in the business-to-business (B2B) digitalization ecosystem, including ensuring developers can play a critical role in cultivating enhanced applications and experiences for customers.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group 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 The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
Ron is an experienced, customer-focused research expert and analyst, with over 20 years of experience in the digital and IT transformation markets, working with businesses to drive consistent revenue and sales growth.
Ron holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from University of Nevada — Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts in political science/government from William and Mary.
