Nokia and Airtel Team Up to Unlock 5G Network APIs for Developers

Nokia NOK has announced a new collaboration with Bharti Airtel to provide third-party developers access to the operator’s network capabilities via Nokia’s Network as Code platform and developer portal. This partnership will enable developers and enterprises to use Airtel’s extensive pan-India network assets, paving the way for new monetization models and innovative use cases across multiple industry verticals.

Nokia’s Network as Code platform aims to close the gap between networks and developers by providing standardized access to network functions without requiring knowledge of underlying technologies. The platform integrates multiple API ecosystems and offers operators broad network exposure options, strong multi-tier API security and simplified access to key network capabilities.

The global Network as Code ecosystem has grown to more than 60 partners, including telecom operators, AI and data center players, Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) providers, system integrators and industry-specific software vendors.

Nokia Corporation Price and Consensus

Nokia Corporation price-consensus-chart | Nokia Corporation Quote

After successful trials, Airtel’s network APIs will be offered on a subscription basis through Nokia’s platform, enabling developers, system integrators and businesses to create advanced solutions powered by Airtel’s capabilities in AI, 5G, edge computing and more. Network APIs are transforming the telecom landscape by allowing operators to virtualize parts of their networks and offer customized data and features to developers, unlocking significant future revenue opportunities.

Management stated that the company’s collaboration with Airtel marks an important milestone in growing the Network as Code ecosystem. It reflects the company’s dedication to helping telecom operators unlock new revenue from their network investments while driving innovation across the developer community.

Nokia stands to benefit significantly from this strategic alliance. In November 2025, Nokia and Senetas Corporation announced a partnership to deliver integrated, mission-critical security capabilities tailored for modern defence environments. The collaboration brings together Nokia’s trusted, scalable mission-critical network solutions, supported by its Defence-in-Depth cybersecurity framework, with Senetas’ globally certified, quantum-resistant encryption technology.

In October 2025, it teamed up with CommScope to simplify and accelerate fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In September 2025, Nokia announced that it formed a partnership with Supermicro, a global leader in application-optimized total IT solutions, aimed at empowering cloud providers, hyperscalers, enterprises and communication service providers (CSPs) to deploy high-performance, AI-optimized data center networking solutions.

NOK’s Zacks Rank & Stock Price Performance

Nokia currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock has gained 42.7% over the past year compared with the Wireless Equipment industry’s growth of 22.3%.

Stocks to Consider From the Computer and Technology Space

Some better-ranked stocks from the broader technology space are Ubiquiti Inc. UI, Ericsson ERIC and Clearfield, Inc. CLFD. UI sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy),  and ERIC and CLFD carry a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

UI’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 54.15%. In the last reported quarter, Ubiquiti delivered an earnings surprise of 39.52%. Its shares have surged 75.8% in the past year.

ERIC earnings beat the consensus estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing in one, with the average surprise being 13.51%. Ericsson’s long-term earnings growth rate is 8.4%. Its shares have jumped 17.8% in the past year.

Clearfield’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 92.47%. In the last reported quarter, CLFD delivered an earnings surprise of 44.4%. Its shares have lost 25.1% in the past six months.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research