Nokia has been named the overall leader in ABI Research’s competitive ranking of Network API Platforms for Internal Exposure, achieving the highest combined score for innovation and implementation among all vendors evaluated. This recognition underscores Nokia’s leadership in helping telecommunication providers unlock new revenue streams and drive co-innovation with customers through network programmability.
ABI Research’s evaluation ranked Nokia first overall with a total score of 85.9, including an innovation score of 85.3 and an implementation score of 86.5. The report highlighted Nokia’s ability to deliver a comprehensive and configurable network API platform — called Network as Code — that supports industry standards, integrates seamlessly with customers’ infrastructure, and enables monetization opportunities across industries.
“This recognition as the overall leader in ABI Research’s assessment is a testament to our commitment to helping telecommunication providers transform their networks into programmable platforms that push the bounds of advanced connectivity. By focusing on co-innovation, interoperability, and monetization enablement, we are empowering our customers to unlock new business models and drive the adoption of 5G-powered applications.”
Shkumbin Hamiti, VP and Head of Network Monetization Platform, Nokia
No. 1 for innovation and implementation
The report emphasized Nokia’s strong focus on innovation, particularly in areas such as API standardization, customizability, and advanced functionalities like network slice management and fraud detection. From an implementation standpoint, Nokia’s high score reflects its extensive commercial reach, market alignment, and ability to enable providers to monetize their 5G Standalone (SA) networks.
More than 75 partners — including telecom providers, CPaaS platforms, systems integrators and vertical independent software vendors — are now part of Nokia’s Network as Code ecosystem. In addition, Nokia and Google Cloud recently announced a partnership to fuse agentic AI with network APIs, making networks consumable and programmable by enterprise agents.
Nokia’s multivendor approach, which aligns with 3GPP and CAMARA functionality, enables telecom providers to expose network capabilities in a secure, standardized way, consolidating network resources across legacy and modern infrastructure. Nokia’s full network API portfolio spans capabilities such as Quality of Service (QoS), device location, SIM swap detection, number verification, device status, and other specialized functions.
Solving industry-specific challenges
By providing standardized, secure access to APIs, Nokia is enabling developers to simplify complex network functions and create innovative applications that address industry-specific challenges. Early use cases span multiple sectors, including:
Banking: Secure authentication and fraud detection for financial transactions.
Healthcare: Real-time data sharing and remote monitoring.
Automotive: Enhanced tele-driving capabilities and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
Entertainment: Optimized streaming and immersive experiences.
“We are pleased to recognize Nokia as an industry leader in network APIs, driving innovation and commercialization. With a strong ecosystem of telecom providers, SIs, and enterprises, as well as advanced platforms to support its robust network API portfolio, Nokia demonstrates proven scale in helping providers monetize their 5G networks and is further accelerating value creation through AI-powered capabilities.”
Larbi Belkhit, Senior Analyst, ABI Research
Recognition of leadership
ABI Research’s competitive assessment evaluated vendors based on their innovation and implementation capabilities, categorizing them as Leaders, Mainstream, or Followers. Nokia’s first-place ranking reflects its ability to combine cutting-edge technology with practical, scalable solutions that meet the needs of telecom providers and their customers.
The report also highlighted the broader market trends driving the adoption of network API platforms, including the maturity of 5G Standalone networks, global API standardization initiatives, and partnerships with hyperscalers and cloud marketplaces. Nokia’s leadership in these areas positions it as a trusted partner for telecoms looking to capitalize on the opportunities presented by 5G and network programmability.
