HELSINKI, March 4, 2026, 14:33 EET
Nokia Oyj said it has expanded its Network as Code ecosystem to include telecom groups such as Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Orange, and will integrate Google Cloud’s “agentic AI” into the platform’s network APIs. The aim is “giving developers greater choice, flexibility, and security to create innovative new applications,” said Shkumbin Hamiti, a vice president at Nokia. 1
Telecom operators have been hunting for ways to make money from 5G beyond faster mobile data. They also face pressure to automate networks as AI-driven apps push more traffic and tighter latency demands.
Nokia wants its Network as Code service to sit between the carrier and the app developer. It is a shift toward software and cloud tie-ups as gear demand softens after years of 5G spending.
Network APIs — application programming interfaces — let a developer call network functions such as number checks or quality boosts without touching the network’s guts. The GSMA’s Open Gateway effort aims to standardize those APIs across operators, alongside the Linux Foundation’s CAMARA project. 2
In a blog post by Google Cloud’s Sridhar Gollapudi and Nokia’s Mikko Jarva, the companies said AI agents could use Nokia’s platform and Google’s Gemini models to turn plain-language goals into network actions. “The network is no longer a bottleneck or a black box — it is a programmable, intelligent partner in our AI journey,” said Blocksport CEO Vladimir Liulka. 3
Google Cloud said the setup leans on standards such as Model Context Protocol and agent-to-agent messaging, which let software agents talk to tools and to each other. “Unlocking a seamless, intuitive developer experience is critical to the growth of monetizable services that leverage the full power of programmable networks and network APIs,” said Deutsche Telekom executive Dr. Chathurangi Wickramasinghe. 4
Nokia has used the Barcelona event to stack up operator deals. Earlier this week it said it would expand work with TIM Brasil and Deutsche Telekom on AI-ready 5G networks and AI-native radio technology, with Nvidia’s AI-RAN platform part of the pitch. 5
The fight is not just among operators. Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson are trying to sell more software to carriers, while cloud companies want a bigger role inside telecom networks.
Still, investors are not sold on how fast these bets will pay. OP Corporate Bank downgraded Nokia to “reduce” with a target price of 6.30 euros, according to MarketScreener. 6
A big risk is that network APIs stay niche. Operators move slowly on security and privacy, and developers will not build if standards fragment or pricing is unclear.
Nokia is due to report first-quarter results on April 23 and hold its annual general meeting on April 9. 7
