API

Network APIs expose telecom capabilities — such as quality of service, location, device status, and authentication — to developers and enterprises through standardized programmable interfaces. Industry initiatives including GSMA Open Gateway and the CAMARA project aim to make these capabilities consistent across operators, turning the network into a platform that applications can call directly. For operators, APIs represent a route to revenue beyond connectivity; for enterprises and developers, they offer programmable access to network features once locked inside carrier systems. Standards bodies including TM Forum and 3GPP continue to shape how these interfaces are defined and monetized. This channel tracks network API standards, operator and hyperscaler partnerships, monetization models, and real deployments, with analysis of where programmable networks are gaining commercial traction and where adoption still lags behind the ambition.

GSA Releases 5G Security Guidelines for Federal Agency Procurement

GSA Releases 5G Security Guidelines for Federal Agency Procurement
In response to the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020, the federal government developed a four-pronged strategy for securing next-generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure. One aspect of this strategy focuses on minimizing supply chain risks to U.S. economic and national security during the worldwide development and deployment of 5G infrastructure. The GSA was tasked with creating acquisition processes that facilitate secure 5G infrastructure for classified information requirements.

5G FWA Poised to Challenge Traditional Fixed Broadband

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
According to ABI Research, 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA) services are increasingly being seen as a competitive alternative to traditional fixed broadband in both developed and emerging markets. The firm predicts that the number of 5G subscriptions of FWA could reach 72 million by 2027, which would represent 35% of the total fixed-wireless market.

India’s 6G Initiative: PM Modi Unveils Bharat 6G Mission and 6G Test Bed

Bharat 6G Vision launched | India's 6G Initiative: PM Modi Unveils Bharat 6G Mission and 6G Test Bed
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced the Bharat 6G Vision Document, which aims to accelerate the adoption of new technology in India, and launched the 6G research and development test bed. The document was developed by a technology innovation group on 6G, consisting of members from various government ministries, research institutions, academia, standardization bodies, telecom service providers, and industry. The group will help to create a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India.

The 6G test bed, launched alongside the document, will offer a platform for industry, academic institutions, and others to test and validate evolving technologies. The government believes that these initiatives will provide an environment conducive to innovation, capacity building, and faster technology adoption in the country.

Betacom Unveils AI Surveillance System for Private 4G/5G Networks

Betacom Unveils AI Surveillance System for Private 4G-5G Networks
Betacom, along with its partners Axis Communications and Evolon Technology, has introduced an AI-powered perimeter surveillance solution called Betacom PSS. It offers round-the-clock physical threat detection for airports, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities, delivering results in a shorter time and at a reduced cost compared to traditional wired and public wireless solutions. Betacom PSS relies on Axis cameras equipped with Evolon's AI-based image detection technology, all operating on Betacom's managed private 4G/5G network.

Virgin Media O2 deploys 4G and 5G to select areas of the London Underground Network

Virgin Media O2 deploys 4G and 5G to select areas of the London Underground Network
UK telecom company Virgin Mobile O2 (VMO2) has joined the growing list of operators providing 4G and 5G connectivity to select areas of the London Underground Network, specifically certain sections of the Central and Northern Lines.

India’s 5G Subscriber Base to Hit 300M by Mar 2025 with Reliance Jio and Airtel’s Aggressive Rollout

Jio and Airtel expanding 5G to New Cities
The adoption of 5G services in India's subscriber base is expected to boost data consumption as they upgrade to higher data packages to access faster speeds. This increase in data usage is anticipated to result in higher average revenue per user (ARPU) and better return metrics for telecommunication companies (telcos).

Episode 7 – CAMARA and Open Gateway Special

Appledore Podcast
Does the latest network API initiative hold the key to 5G revenue?

Transforming the Future of the Telecom Workforce with Leticia Latino-Van Splunteren

5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles
Joining host Carrie Charles on today's episode of 5G Talent Talk is Leticia Latino Van-Splunteren, CEO of Neptuno USA. Together, they explore the way 5G technology is transforming the telecom industry and discuss the challenges and opportunities for building a talented and diverse workforce in this rapidly evolving field. In this episode, you'll learn about the key skills and knowledge that are in high demand for 5G jobs, the role of lifelong learning in building a successful career in telecom, and the importance of mentorship and collaboration for advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In this episode, Leticia shares her insights on how companies can attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive market, and why embracing innovation is essential for staying ahead in the fast-paced world of 5G.

Nokia and Singtel successfully trial 5G IP transport end-to-end network slicing

Turkcell and Ericsson showcase 5G network slicing success
Nokia and Singtel successfully trialed 5G IP transport end-to-end network slicing. Technology is designed to enhance the customer experience by delivering end-to-end service performance. When deployed, the solution will also enable Singtel to offer more innovative 5G services by leveraging virtual networks optimized for different applications or isolating enterprise customers’ secure slices from Internet traffic.

5G Future Forum accelerating 5G and Edge Compute solutions around the world

5G Future Forum accelerating 5G and Edge Compute solutions around the world
The 5G Future Forum (5GFF) will lead a first-in-the-world demonstration that is expected to change the evolution of music collaboration. Using the 5GFF Edge Discovery Service (EDS) API, which enables devices to identify and connect to the Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) site providing the lowest latency closest to them, the performance will showcase the value of the interoperability of the EDS API, leveraging Open Sesame's audio platform to sync guitar players across New York, USA (Verizon), Toronto, Canada (Rogers), and London, England (Vodafone).

Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft partner and trial private 5G networks for pharmaceutical enterprise

Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft partner and trial private 5G networks for pharmaceutical enterprise
DT's new offer has standardized 5G campus network solutions. The end-to-end solution is based on Microsoft Azure's private MEC platform, featuring an edge platform and networking capabilities that will allow your business to utilize modern connected applications. This concept was specifically designed with small and medium businesses in mind, as well as those who already have an established landscape of Azure products at their disposal.

Navigating the Changing Landscape of Telecom with Chad Rasmussen of Y-COM

5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles
As we head further into 2023, new trends come surfing in the telecom industry. In such an ever-changing landscape, how does a company meet the changing needs of its clients? In this episode, Chad Rasmussen, President and CEO of Y-COM, discusses his unique approach to paving the way for the future of telecom. He shares how Y-COM has evolved to stay ahead of the curve, connecting the dots between the trends and providing cutting-edge solutions to their clients. He discusses how Y-COM navigates the challenging labor market to recruit and retain top talent. Do you want to hear more about the latest trends and future outlook of the telecom industry? Tune in to this episode to hear Y-COM's role in shaping the future of connectivity with Chad Rasmussen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GSMA Open Gateway, and why was it created?
GSMA Open Gateway is an industry-wide initiative, backed by the GSMA, the trade body representing mobile operators globally, and dozens of major carriers, designed to standardize network APIs across operators and countries. Before this initiative, a company wanting to use a SIM swap detection API to prevent account-takeover fraud would typically need separate technical integrations and commercial agreements with every carrier in every market it operated in, an approach that didn’t scale well for global digital businesses like banks or ride-sharing platforms. Open Gateway defines a common technical specification for these APIs so a single integration works consistently across participating operators worldwide, dramatically reducing the engineering and business development overhead for any company wanting to build services on top of carrier network data.
Why do telecom companies want to expose network APIs to outside developers?
Exposing network APIs gives carriers a new revenue stream that doesn’t depend on selling more raw data or voice minutes, an increasingly commoditized, low-margin business. Instead, operators can charge for premium, differentiated capabilities, like verified caller identity for fraud prevention, real-time network quality guarantees for a specific application, or device location data for logistics and delivery tracking, turning the network itself into a monetizable platform. This mirrors a broader strategic shift across the industry, often summarized as moving from selling bandwidth to selling outcomes, where operators position themselves as infrastructure partners for other industries’ digital products rather than purely as connectivity providers competing on price. It also opens partnerships with software companies that wouldn’t otherwise have a direct commercial relationship with an operator at all.
What are some real-world examples of telecom network APIs in use today?
Some of the most established use cases include number verification, used heavily by banking and fintech apps to confirm a user genuinely controls the phone number tied to their account before allowing a transaction; SIM swap detection, which flags when a phone number has recently been transferred to a new SIM, a common signal of an account-takeover attempt; and location APIs, used by logistics and delivery companies for real-time tracking, or by other services for geofencing-based features. Newer, more specialized examples are emerging too, including quality-on-demand APIs that let an application request guaranteed network performance for a specific session, useful for video calls or cloud gaming, effectively giving developers programmatic access to capabilities like network slicing without negotiating a direct deal with the underlying carrier.
How do network APIs relate to network slicing and monetization?
Network slicing creates the actual underlying capability, a dedicated, performance-guaranteed virtual network for a specific purpose, while network APIs are often the mechanism by which a third-party developer actually requests and uses that capability programmatically, without needing to understand or manage the underlying slicing infrastructure directly. A quality-on-demand API, for example, might let a video conferencing app request guaranteed low latency for an important call, with that request fulfilled behind the scenes by the operator’s slicing infrastructure. This pairing is central to how operators are trying to monetize their 5G Standalone investments: slicing creates differentiated network capabilities, and APIs are the commercial and technical interface that makes those capabilities accessible and billable to outside developers.
What’s stopping network APIs from being adopted faster?
Adoption has been slower than initial industry enthusiasm suggested, for a few recurring reasons. Developers building global products need consistent behavior across operators and countries, and while standardization initiatives like Open Gateway aim to solve this, achieving true consistency across dozens of carriers, each with their own legacy systems and commercial priorities, takes time. There’s also a chicken-and-egg dynamic: developers are hesitant to build products around APIs that aren’t yet universally available, while operators are cautious about investing heavily in API infrastructure without proven developer demand. Pricing adds another layer of friction, since operators are still experimenting with how to price access in a way that’s attractive to developers while still generating meaningful revenue relative to infrastructure cost.
Who are the typical customers building on top of telecom network APIs?
Customers span a range of industries, but financial services and fraud prevention have been the earliest and most consistent adopters, using number verification and SIM swap detection to reduce account-takeover and transaction fraud. Logistics, delivery, and ride-sharing companies are major users of location-based APIs for real-time tracking and route optimization. Gaming and entertainment companies are increasingly interested in quality-on-demand APIs to guarantee performance for latency-sensitive applications like cloud gaming. Beyond individual companies, aggregator platforms have emerged specifically to combine APIs from multiple operators into a single access point, letting developers integrate once and reach users across many carriers and countries without managing separate relationships with each one.
Are network APIs secure, and who controls access to sensitive data like location?
Security and access control are central design considerations for network APIs, given the sensitive nature of data like location or SIM status. Access is generally tightly controlled through authentication and authorization systems, and most operators only expose specific, limited capabilities through these APIs rather than raw access to underlying network or subscriber data. Consent mechanisms are also typically built in, particularly for anything involving an individual’s location or personal data, often requiring an explicit user opt-in before that data can be shared with a third-party application. This remains an evolving area, and as more operators expose more capabilities through these interfaces, regulators and privacy advocates are paying closer attention to how consent is obtained across different countries with different privacy law standards.

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