Connected by Code: Unlocking Automotive innovation with Network APIs

A shift is happening in the automotive industry: Vehicles are transforming into data hubs that run on software and connectivity, rather than merely engines or batteries. 

This development, made possible by recent advances in 5G programmable networks, holds tremendous potential across verticals such as electrification, autonomy, infotainment, and smart predictive maintenance. 

Without the right approach, however, the very thing driving progress (the network) can also be a roadblock to innovation.  

Best effort is no longer enough. 

When it comes to critical vehicle functions, whether it’s autonomous navigation, real-time diagnostics, or remote teleoperation, traditional “best effort” network connectivity simply doesn’t cut it. Developers need precise control over network performance, reliability and security to build safe and scalable automotive applications. 

This is where programmable connectivity enters the scene, along with network APIs that make it accessible. 

What is programmable connectivity? 

In simple terms, programmable connectivity is the ability to interact with and control aspects of the network through software. Rather than treating the network as a static transport layer, developers can now program it dynamically, requesting better performance, location data, device status, or secure channels, based on real-time needs. 

Network APIs are interfaces that expose critical network functions to developers, making this shift possible.  

Why does it matter for automotive? 

As vehicles grow smarter, the demands on the network become more intense and more specific. Consider these common automotive challenges: 

• Autonomous driving and teleoperation require ultra-reliable, low-latency connectivity to navigate traffic safely and perform emergency handovers. 
• Over-the-air (OTA) updates must reach every vehicle on time and intact: no room for network lags or failures. 
• GPS location often fails in underground garages or urban canyons, creating blind spots in navigation and geofencing. 
• In-car services, like streaming or real-time traffic updates, degrade in congested areas with fluctuating bandwidth. 
• V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication falters without fast, context-aware network coordination between vehicles, infrastructure, and pedestrians. 
• And underlying it all, data security and device validation are critical, especially when dealing with remote commands or sensitive diagnostics. 

All of these issues can be solved, or at least significantly mitigated, with network APIs. 

And Nokia’s Network as Code platform is at the forefront of this transformation. 

Introducing Nokia’s Network as Code (NaC) 

Nokia’s Network as Code platform brings a suite of ready-to-integrate network APIs that allow developers to embed advanced 5G capabilities directly into their automotive applications. 

Here are a few highlights: 

• Quality on Demand (QoD) API: Request ultra-reliable, low-latency connectivity for mission-critical operations like autonomous maneuvers or remote driving. 
• Device Location API: Get real-time, network-based location tracking—even when GPS fails. 
• Device Reachability API: Check if a vehicle system is online before sending diagnostics or updates. 
• Network-Aware Route Optimization API: Help navigation systems avoid low-connectivity areas to maintain service quality. 
• Population Density API: Improve route planning and safety by understanding crowding in real time. 

Together, these APIs give developers a toolbox for building smarter, safer, and more adaptive applications. 

Real-world example: Elmo tele-driving 

In Estonia, Elmo is a company pioneering robotaxi services. Its vehicles combine AI, sensors and Nokia’s network APIs to operate safely in busy urban environments. When edge cases arise, like unexpected construction or sudden congestion, a remote operator can take over via tele-driving. 

That’s where our Network as Code QoD API ensures the required ultra-low latency connection for safe handover. Meanwhile, APIs like Device Location and Reachability provide the real-time visibility needed for efficient fleet management and predictive maintenance. 

Geo-fencing, emergency rerouting and secure data exchange all rely on the programmable network layer enabled by Nokia’s platform. 

Why should developers care? 

Developers don’t need to be telecom engineers to unlock the power of the network. With Nokia’s Network as Code platform, network APIs are exposed in a developer-friendly way, making it simple to integrate them into automotive applications through known tools and languages. 

This opens new dimensions of control and responsiveness for enterprise developers working on mobility, logistics or automotive platforms. 

Want to ensure your teleoperation app maintains ultra-low latency during a critical maneuver? Need to verify a vehicle is online before pushing a software update? Or dynamically reroute a fleet vehicle away from a congestion zone using real-time population density data? 

Network APIs make all that possible. 

Want to find out more? 

Check out our most recent use cases and get started building the vehicle interconnectivity experiences of the future, while letting the network serve as your co-pilot!