Nokia has announced the acquisition of Rapid's technology assets, which includes the world's largest API hub used by thousands of active developers globally, as well as its highly skilled research and development unit.
This acquisition aligns with Nokia's strategy to expand its network API product roadmap and lead the API ecosystem of operators, systems integrators, independent software vendors, and hyperscalers in utilizing 5G and 4G network capabilities to monetize network assets. Operators are investing heavily in 5G and are using network APIs to monetize their network assets by exposing their network functions in a standardized way to developers.
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Network as Code Driving API Development
API standardization allows developers to create and sell new consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications. By integrating Rapid's API technology with Nokia's Network as Code platform and developer portal, operators can seamlessly integrate their networks, control API usage and exposure, manage API lifecycle, and collaborate with Rapid's global developer base on its public API marketplace. Since launching the Network as Code platform in September 2023, Nokia has gained momentum with 27 partners globally, including BT, DISH, Google Cloud, Infobip, Orange, Telefónica, and Telecom Argentina.
Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, stated, “Operators need a bridge to connect with thousands of developers to drive enterprise and consumer value creation and monetize their networks. Rapid's technology and talented R&D team, combined with Nokia, will bring a robust API infrastructure platform to accelerate network API-related product development and drive adoption across its global developer community.”
Marc Friend, CEO of Rapid, added, “We are excited to join forces with Nokia. The combination of Rapid's API technology and R&D expertise with Nokia's scale and network and API domain expertise will allow us to expand the broader API ecosystem.”
Rapid's API technology includes a public marketplace, enterprise services, and an enterprise-grade API hub that enables companies to securely design, build, test, and share APIs internally and externally. The public API marketplace allows developers worldwide to list and monetize their APIs and connect to hundreds of other APIs.
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