Nokia reports that cloud-native 5G SA is driving core network AI and automation discussions

A report on Nokia’s 32nd Core User Group in Munich says operators view cloud-native and 5G standalone as required changes, while monetization and network complexity remain unresolved for many providers.

Event focus and operator stance

At the Munich gathering, Nokia executives discussed core-network automation and AI, while operators described cloud native as an industry-wide shift. One operator said, “we have no choice but to move to 5G SA…the whole industry is going cloud native.”

The report links operator urgency to longer adoption timelines and limits in monetization from 5G. It also states that some operators focused on AI-enabled use cases and APIs as potential revenue directions.

Key themes: AI, automation, and trust

Nokia’s presentations centered on automating cloud-native networks, operating in a multi-cloud environment, and improving resilience. The report describes a vision in which AI predicts and manages network functions and token-related operations.

Customers discussed AI-enabled voice, monetizing data, authorization and identity, and exposing APIs for AI agents, with regulatory constraints described as an impediment. In parallel, operators raised concerns about escalating infrastructure costs and the need to extend equipment life cycles.

Nokia’s response: Network as Code and the AI agent angle

The report says Nokia presented Network as Code, described as a platform that lets developers access operator network capabilities through APIs. Nokia VP Shkumbin Hamiti explained that after acquiring Rapid’s API hub in 2024, Nokia positioned the platform for MCP-based AI agent access.

The report adds that whether the approach supports revenue depends on the developer and system integrator ecosystem Nokia and its customers can build. It also notes that Nokia did not directly address operator requests to prolong network function life cycles.

NVIDIA hardware reveal for core networks

In addition to software and automation, the report describes a disclosed core-network element of Nokia’s NVIDIA partnership. Marcelo Madruga, Head of Core Networks’ Technology, said the edge server contained “8 NVIDIA GPUs” and “the capacity to process a thousand tokens per second.”

Madruga also stated, “We’re going to create the AI Grid,” and asked attendees to help define what it means. Breakout sessions included partner sessions from AMD, AWS, Dell, Google, Intel, Everpure, and Red Hat, while the report says NVIDIA was absent from those rooms.

Near-term operating plans and monetization comments

The report quotes an automation strategy executive asking, “Should I hand over the keys to my network to AI Agents?” and says the proposed direction focused on using agents to handle operational tasks such as collecting logs and performing root cause analyses.

On monetization, one major telco said, “with 5G Advanced, the best is yet to come.” The report frames near-term roadmaps as a mix of core-network solutions and partner offers, while AI’s role remains tied to operational execution.

This Analyst Signals brief reflects a neutral, fact-based summary of the original research note.