Network APIs will do for telecom what UPI did for payments

Network APIs will do for telecom what UPI did for payments by unlocking an innovation wave no one saw coming

India has witnessed how democratizing access to digital infrastructure can reshape an entire industry. UPI processed more than 100 billion transactions last year because it allowed innovation at the edges. Developers were not required to understand banking infrastructure to build transformative experiences. They only needed access to standardized APIs. Telecom is now entering a similar phase. The recent collaboration between Nokia and Bharti Airtel signals a shift that could redefine how digital services are created, delivered and monetized.

Airtel is one of India’s largest operators with a market presence that extends across the country. Its stock continues to reflect strong business confidence, trading above 2,100 INR as of December 2025 based on publicly available data. This positions the company well to take a leadership role in next generation network transformation. By partnering with Nokia, Airtel will begin offering network APIs to developers, system integrators and enterprises on a subscription basis. The availability of these APIs follows successful trials and will be delivered through Nokia’s Network as Code platform.

This development is significant because it converts Airtel’s extensive investments in 5G, AI enabled network intelligence and edge computing into programmable building blocks for innovators. These network capabilities are no longer locked inside the operator’s architecture. They become accessible tools for building advanced digital solutions. Developers can now tap into features such as network triggered automation, high precision location, differentiated quality of service and edge aware application logic. These elements previously required deep telecom engineering knowledge or custom deployments. With APIs, they become available through standardized access models.

This shift has important business consequences. Operators have historically derived most revenue from consumer connectivity. The monetization of network infrastructure depended on subscriber growth and data consumption. API driven services change this equation. The same network assets can now be monetized repeatedly across different industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, smart cities and retail. The Airtel Nokia collaboration explicitly highlights this multidimensional value creation by stating that the approach will open opportunities across multiple industry verticals. It moves the business model beyond conventional connectivity into platform based monetization.

The timing also matters. Enterprises across India are modernizing operations and adopting AI, automation and IoT at accelerating rates. Manufacturers are deploying sensor rich production systems. Logistics providers are digitizing supply chains. Financial institutions are building real time security and identity frameworks. Retailers are using predictive analytics and edge intelligence. These digital ambitions require networks that can adapt in real time. Network APIs allow enterprises to automate responses based on live network conditions rather than treating the network as a fixed service. This creates faster workflows, reduced downtime and more reliable end user experiences.

The competitive landscape in India will be reshaped as well. Airtel’s early entry into programmable networks gives it a meaningful advantage. Jio has strong technological scale and may accelerate its own API initiatives to remain competitive, but Airtel will have the benefit of early ecosystem development. Vodafone Idea, which continues to face financial and operational constraints, may find it difficult to compete in this new domain. BSNL, which is still transitioning to modern 4G and 5G deployments, will also be challenged in keeping pace with programmable network capabilities.

The global context further strengthens the impact of this move. Nokia’s Network as Code platform already includes more than 60 partners worldwide. This ecosystem spans telecommunications providers, AI and data center customers, CPaaS platforms, systems integrators and vertical software vendors. Airtel’s entry into this ecosystem places Indian developers and enterprises into a broader global innovation network. Solutions built for India can scale to international markets more easily because they are built on standardized APIs shared across multiple operators.

The developer community will likely be the earliest beneficiary. With access to Airtel’s network capabilities, developers can build prototypes quickly and deploy them without navigating complex telecom integrations. Use cases like drone monitoring, automated fleet management, remote industrial maintenance, AR and VR applications, real time location based services and AI driven retail systems become easier to design and scale. This accelerates India’s potential to become a global hub for network aware innovation.

For system integrators and IT services companies, the opportunity is equally large. Firms such as Infosys, TCS, HCL and Tech Mahindra already deliver digital transformation at scale. With network APIs, they can build solutions that integrate enterprise workflows directly with underlying network behavior. This enhances automation and reduces costs, while opening new avenues for long term managed services.

Telecom networks are evolving from infrastructure to programmable platforms. The Airtel Nokia partnership illustrates how this transformation is unfolding in real time. The telecom sector is moving toward a model where innovation does not require operators to build every service themselves. Instead, they become enablers who provide secure access to critical capabilities that power new digital solutions.

India’s digital economy has always advanced when foundational infrastructure becomes accessible. Payments witnessed this with UPI. Telecom is now set to experience a similar transformation driven by network APIs. As networks become programmable, innovation accelerates, competition shifts toward value creation and new business opportunities emerge across every industry. This moment marks the beginning of a new chapter for India’s digital ecosystem and for the global future of programmable networks.