Methods, computer-readable media and devices are disclosed for selecting a plurality of network devices to perform a plurality of tasks in accordance with a set of functional network analytics instructions. For example, a processor deployed in a telecommunication network may receive a set of functional network analytics instructions compiled from a set of instructions in accordance with a functional network analytics platform application programming interface. The processor may further, in accordance with the set of functional network analytics instructions, select a plurality of network devices to perform a plurality of tasks, send the plurality of tasks to the plurality of network devices, receive control plane data from the plurality of network devices, correlate the control plane data in accordance with operations defined in the set of functional network analytics instructions to create resulting data, and forward the resulting data to at least one recipient device.