The GSMA has published an update on its Open Gateway initiative, first announced in 2023. Open Gateway aims to unlock mobile network capabilities worldwide by exposing common application programming interfaces (APIs) that developers and businesses can use to build new services and monetize network assets.
One year after launch, the initiative has attracted nearly 50 operator commitments, representing roughly two-thirds of global mobile market share. That operator participation is a key indicator of supply-side readiness for the API ecosystem the GSMA envisions.
Today the Open Gateway library includes 17 operational APIs, with another 11 defined within the CAMARA project. These APIs cover important use cases such as anti-fraud measures, quality-on-demand, edge compute, and device location capabilities—functions that are increasingly relevant for industries ranging from logistics and drones to finance and media.
Operators and developers are encouraged to adopt these APIs to create real-world solutions. Examples already in market include US operators using device location APIs to track drones and South African operators collaborating to reduce fraud. The GSMA stresses that the opportunity to shape this market is time-limited and urges more operators to join and deepen their engagement with developer communities and distribution partners.
Market momentum
As of March 2024, 49 mobile operators have committed to the GSMA Open Gateway, covering about 65% of global market share. Nine operators joined in the first half of 2024, and momentum is expected to continue, particularly in regions where adoption remains limited. Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 provided a major platform for the GSMA to highlight the importance of APIs in unlocking 5G monetization.
Following MWC, the pace of new operator sign-ups slowed as efforts shifted to building awareness among developers and implementing APIs through hyperscalers and aggregator partners. The initiative’s primary objective is to generate incremental mobile revenue by validating the 5G enterprise opportunity: engaging developers as an additional channel for monetizing network capabilities, alongside traditional enterprise sales.
While revenue is the ultimate measure of success, intermediate milestones—developer engagement, measurable API usage, and demonstrable willingness to pay—are critical indicators that the market is progressing in the right direction.
Aggregators are central to the Open Gateway strategy. These intermediaries connect multiple operators to large developer communities and existing go-to-market channels, helping achieve the scale needed for meaningful monetization. Effective communication of the Open Gateway value proposition to developers, and strong engagement with aggregator partners, will be essential for operators seeking to realize revenue at scale.
Key figures highlighted in the GSMA update include:
- 65%: Share of the global mobile market covered by committed operators as of March 2024.
- 24%: European share of the global API base.
- 2x: The number of committed operators has doubled over the past 12 months.
- 17: APIs currently in the GSMA Open Gateway library, with 11 more specified within CAMARA.
Operator participation spans many countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, the UK, the USA, and Uzbekistan. This geographic breadth demonstrates the initiative’s global reach and potential impact.
The GSMA expects 2024 to be a defining year for Open Gateway aggregators. Many aggregator solutions remain at pre-commercial stages, but planned launches and commercial rollouts this year are anticipated to unlock greater value and scale, accelerating adoption across the ecosystem.
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