Accelerating Networks: Telefónica and Nokia Push Agentic AI

Telefónica and Nokia have formed a joint initiative to explore the use of agentic AI in accelerating the adoption of Network APIs, reinforcing both companies' commitment to open innovation and programmable networks. 

Both operators are active participants in the GSMA Open Gateway Initiative, which encourages open and interoperable APIs to drive telecommunications innovation.

Testing advanced AI protocols

The collaboration focuses on two emerging AI protocols – Agent-to-Agent Protocol (A2A) and Model Context Protocol (MCP). 

A2A allows multiple AI agents to coordinate complex workflows by dynamically discovering, communicating and collaborating, while MCP standardises access to external tools and data in a consistent and secure manner.

By combining these protocols, Telefónica and Nokia aim to simplify how Network APIs are exposed and consumed, making it easier for developers and industry partners to create and deliver services efficiently. 

The project also seeks to explore how AI can transform networks to enable new monetisation models and pave the way for a fully agentic monetisation ecosystem.

Initial use case: banking fraud prevention

The first development tested a bank fraud prevention Agent in a lab environment. Telefónica’s testbed uses an MCP server provided by Nokia’s Network Exposure Platform to expose Network APIs and resources useful for the application, including SIM Swap and Device Swap data. 

Nokia’s Network as Code platform aggregates these capabilities for simplified access by the bank’s application developers in an A2A format. Additional use cases are planned for joint testing in the future.

Cayetano Carbajo, Core, Transport and Ecosystem Director at CTIO, speaking on behalf of Telefónica, says: “Telefónica is committed to driving open innovation in network exposure and automation.

“By working with Nokia to pilot these advanced AI protocols, we are laying the groundwork for faster and more scalable adoption of Network APIs. Being prepared to expose AI Agents is key to continuing to monetise our capabilities.

“Our shared goal is to lower the barriers for partners and developers, enabling a new generation of services powered by programmable networks.”

Bringing agentic AI to industry partners

Shkumbin Hamiti, Head of Network Monetisation Platform at Nokia, explains that the companies are proving agentic AI can "meaningfully accelerate the adoption of network APIs". 

He adds: "By combining AI protocols with Nokia’s Network Exposure and Network as Code platforms, we enable secure, consistent access to network capabilities and let AI agents coordinate complex workflows, end to end. 

“The result is an actionable, developer‑friendly experience that moves our industry one step closer to an agent‑driven monetisation ecosystem.”

Both companies plan to share insights from this collaboration with the wider industry to support standardisation and ecosystem growth. 

The initiative highlights Telefónica’s dedication to responsible innovation and its leadership in practical AI adoption and Network API advancement worldwide.