New Delhi: Nokia and Bharti Airtel have partnered to make Airtel’s network capabilities available to developers and enterprises through Nokia’s Network as Code platform. The move signals a shift toward API-driven telecom services aimed at creating practical 5G-based solutions for industries.
Nokia said the collaboration will allow Airtel to expose selected network functions to third-party developers on a subscription basis. The APIs were tested in earlier trials and will now be accessible through Nokia’s developer portal, enabling system integrators, enterprise teams and software developers to build applications that draw on Airtel’s nationwide network assets. Key capabilities include 5G connectivity, automation, AI-driven functions and edge computing.
Telecom network APIs are emerging as a new layer within the industry, allowing operators to virtualize parts of their networks and offer them as modular services. Analysts say this model could support enterprise adoption of low-latency applications, location-based services, real-time analytics and network automation tools. It also offers operators a pathway to diversify revenue as 5G networks mature.
Airtel Business CEO Sharat Sinha said the company aims to support collaborative innovation by making network features accessible for building secure digital services. Nokia’s India Cloud and Network Services head Arvind Khurana noted that exposing network functions in a standardized format can help operators commercialize network capabilities more efficiently and widen the developer ecosystem.
Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which connects multiple API ecosystems, now includes more than 60 partners across telecom providers, CPaaS platforms, system integrators and AI and data-center customers. The platform is designed to streamline access to network functions without requiring developers to manage underlying telecom complexities. The partnership signals how operators are gradually opening their networks to external innovation as the market shifts toward programmable 5G infrastructure.
