Network APIs to Transform Telecoms in 2026 and Beyond

The coming year marks a critical milestone for programmable networks and network APIs in telecoms, as predicted by Mikko Jarva, Nokia’s Head of Portfolio and Technology for the Network Monetisation Platform (NMP).

With more than three decades of experience shaping telecommunications software, data, analytics and AI solutions, Mikko is uniquely positioned to chart the course for next-generation connectivity and value creation. His insights reflect an industry on the verge of transformative change, fuelled by alliances, AI advances and a new class of developer tools.

The network API momentum: A rapid two-year evolution

The network API market has matured at a pace. As Mikko observes: “If 2024 was defined by advancing network capabilities through API frameworks and alliances like GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA, we’ll remember 2025 for its increased buy-in from hyperscalers, network service providers and early adopters like the financial services industry (think identity verification and fraud prevention apps).”

Notably, even Nvidia’s recent AI-RAN partnership announcement captured industry attention, sparking speculation about how such collaborations could expand the API landscape.

Satellites and synergies: Multi-network APIs take flight

A standout prediction for 2026 is the rise of multi-network, multi-connectivity APIs, heralding a future where terrestrial and satellite networks seamlessly integrate. 

“We’re going to start seeing the integration of low-earth orbit satellite networks like Starlink, Telesat and OneWeb with terrestrial public and private cellular networks,” Mikko says.

"It has fascinating implications for use cases in global logistics, where services like asset tracking could work from the loading yard through container terminals and across the widest oceans.”

By weaving remote, resource-heavy industries and critical response infrastructure into a converged fabric, the API revolution is set to transcend traditional barriers in reach and reliability.

Seamless mobility: Remote SIM provisioning goes global

As vehicles and devices traverse countries and networks, the automotive sector, in particular, stands to benefit from API-driven remote SIM provisioning.

Mikko notes: “As vehicles move across national boundaries and mobile network coverage areas, eSIMs (and iSIMs further into the future) can be remotely downloaded, activated and a subscriber profile (IMSI) created on the new network.

"It will allow for seamless delivery of services and software upgrades wherever the car (or any other device) happens to be.” Such advancements promise frictionless mobility and instant-on connectivity for people and machines alike.

AI at the heart: The rise of agentic API consumers

Agentic AI will increasingly become a lynchpin for programmable networks.

Mikko predicts: “The rise of intelligent agents as both consumers and providers of network APIs will begin enabling automated, context-aware interactions for many kinds of consumer and enterprise use cases.”

I manifests in everything from dynamic supply chains and smart city orchestration to deeply personalised customer experiences, all powered by real-time data and context-aware decisions.

Autonomous agents seamlessly interfacing with network APIs will drive efficiency and create new opportunities for both telecom operators and enterprises.

Quality on demand: The next generation of network services

Industry focus on monetisation continues, buoyed by maturing OSS/BSS systems and growing developer interest.

Mikko points to CAMARA’s Quality on Demand (QoD) API: “The QoD API allows an AI agent or developer to request specific performance parameters from the network, such as stable latency and jitter.

"In turn, that can dynamically create, extend and terminate the service for an application or assign indefinite QoD designations for some devices.”

Crucially, it aligns with new AI workloads at the edge, ensuring that data-hungry applications receive the resources they need, when and where they are needed most.

Edge discovery: Making cloud workloads smarter

APIs for edge discovery, Optimal and Simple Edge Discovery, plus Edge Application Management, will rise to prominence in 2026, primarily for AI-driven services.

“To ensure that an AI inference workload is run close enough to the end user to ensure low latency, these APIs consider location and local network performance characteristics to find either the optimal edge facility or simply the closest,” says Mikko.

The resulting flexibility enables new network architectures, from network slicing to dynamic cloud resource allocation based on chip, water or power availability.

The developer experience: Democratising programmable networks

Reflecting on the human element, Mikko highlights a substantial shift in software development: “In many AI/ML operations, non-programmers such as business analysts can use natural language interfaces to program their own models and applications with little to no experience.”

The democratisation of development, with AI agents helping to discover, manage and generate network code, opens up abstractions that make API-powered innovation accessible to more users than ever before.

The API economy’s next act

Summarising the outlook, Mikko concludes: “In 2026, the biggest network API use cases will likely continue to focus on fraud and identity protection. We might even see APIs emerge that, for instance, can flag fraudulent behaviour such as ‘time since last SIM swap.’

Otherwise, expect a lot of action, as always, around the AI space and the extension of API coverage across network domains, even into the nearest reaches of space.”

For operators, enterprises and developers, the coming year represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Success requires an understanding not just of technology, but also of the rapidly evolving ecosystem of partners, platforms and capabilities.

As the programmable network era gathers pace, those who embrace its possibilities, fuelled by robust APIs, intelligent automation and seamless developer tools, are poised to shape the telecoms landscape for years to come.