The GSMA has issued an update on its Open Gateway telecoms API initiative, reporting meaningful progress in collaboration, developer engagement, and operator uptake, while also drawing attention to persistent challenges that require focused action.
Introduced in early 2023, Open Gateway aims to standardise access to mobile network capabilities through a common set of APIs, enabling operators and partners worldwide to unlock new services and revenue streams.
Since launch, the initiative has gained participation from operators representing roughly 75% of global mobile connections, with 14 additional operators joining in the second half of 2024 alone. This momentum underscores the sector’s interest in interoperable, standardised network APIs, even as adoption patterns vary regionally.
Growth areas for Open Gateway
By December 2024, 67 operators had signed on to Open Gateway, expanding the initiative’s footprint across key markets. However, geographic uptake is uneven: growth has been strongest in China and across South and Southeast Asia, where operators including Smart, Globe Telecom, and Cellcard have driven regional adoption and sparked a domino effect among peers.
In contrast, participation in Africa remains limited—only around 5% of Sub-Saharan operators have joined despite the region’s large subscriber base—pointing to the need for more targeted outreach and support.
Security has been the principal catalyst for adoption so far, reflecting global concerns around fraud and identity theft. Many operators have prioritised APIs focused on fraud prevention and authentication—such as SIM swap detection, one-time password services, and KYC matching. A notable development is the introduction of “Scam Signal” in the UK, a joint initiative between banks and operators, including NatWest, to counter authorised push payment fraud.
Beyond security, the Open Gateway APIs are finding traction in edge computing, payments, and location-based services—areas with high relevance for fast-growing industry verticals such as manufacturing and energy.
The numbers in context
The Open Gateway ecosystem now lists 23 distinct APIs covering multiple use cases. Operators are being encouraged to accelerate rollouts and monetisation efforts to demonstrate clear commercial value, but scaling will require deeper engagement with developers, enterprises, and third-party aggregators.
The GSMA notes that technical enablers are largely in place, but 2025 will be decisive for resolving demand-side barriers. Securing commitments from hyperscalers such as Google Cloud and AWS remains a priority; after initial attention, hyperscaler engagement has been relatively subdued.
Enterprise demand: opportunities and hurdles
Network APIs are positioned as a key enabler for operators to capture a growing market driven by enterprise digital transformation, which analysts expect to expand substantially through the decade.
Security, IoT, and cloud/data centre services are highlighted as the most promising areas. Still, actual enterprise integration of APIs into high-visibility projects has been slower than anticipated. For example, manufacturing—estimated to represent around $60 billion in addressable operator revenue—has seen limited API uptake to date.
The report identifies a disconnect between developers and enterprise buyers about the practical applications and value network APIs can deliver in verticals such as manufacturing and financial services. Bridging that gap will require tailoring solutions to industry-specific needs and clearer communication of the commercial and technical benefits APIs can provide.
Developer sentiment
Developer support is central to scaling the ecosystem. A mid-2024 GSMA survey of 1,000 developers—covering both 5G-enabled and non-5G scenarios—found relatively strong awareness of network APIs, with 68% reporting a clear understanding. Yet regional differences are marked: only about a third of Chinese developers reported familiarity with these APIs despite China’s leadership in 5G deployment.
Usage also varies by region. India and parts of South America lead with developer usage rates around 60–70%, while the US and Europe report closer to 30%. These disparities reflect differing dominant industries and application priorities: retail and e-commerce are prominent in India, gaming in Latin America, and manufacturing-focused cases in Europe.
Developers consistently value simplicity, flexibility, and transparent pricing. Subscription models are generally preferred, though alternatives such as pay-per-feature or revenue-sharing are attractive—especially for niche or early-stage use cases. Above all, developers emphasise quality of service, security, and ease of integration; getting these fundamentals right is considered essential for broader adoption.
Case studies and increasing Open Gateway adoption
The GSMA highlights several operator-led case studies that illustrate the practical value of Open Gateway APIs:
- Nokia and Elisa with Elmo Cars: In Finland, a proof-of-concept used the Quality on Demand API to dynamically manage network resources for remote-driving demonstrations in crowded urban areas. The project improved real-time video quality and situational awareness and demonstrated how standardised APIs can be deployed across markets to support latency-sensitive services.
- Orange and Laude—public safety: Orange and IT consulting firm Laude developed ViRe (Violence Restriction), an application that uses geofencing and location APIs to alert authorities when individuals subject to restraining orders enter restricted areas. The solution builds on the CAMARA API framework and showcases cross-market public safety use cases.
- Telkomsel’s digital economy tools: In Indonesia, Telkomsel launched “Telco Verify,” an API-based authentication and verification service to reduce fraud in digital banking and payments. The solution combines two-factor authentication and number-based verification to strengthen transactional security amid rising cyber threats.
These examples highlight the breadth of use cases available through Open Gateway but also underscore ongoing concerns around scalability and demonstrable revenue. While anti-fraud APIs continue to produce early wins, a broader deployment across edge computing and location services is developing more slowly.
To address demand-side obstacles, the GSMA plans the Fusion initiative—an advanced market commitment mechanism designed to secure pre-commitments from global enterprises for Open Gateway APIs. Partnerships will also be crucial to achieve scale, with collaborations such as Ericsson’s API programmes with global carriers and Singtel’s integration with the Bridge Alliance API Exchange cited as important steps.
As the GSMA shifts emphasis from building technical capabilities to delivering measurable business outcomes, 2025 is positioned as a pivotal year. The report concludes that the clearest indicator of success will be the degree to which Open Gateway APIs generate incremental revenues for operators and partners.
Achieving that outcome depends on expanding developer adoption, converting pilot use cases into production deployments across industries, and securing stronger engagement from hyperscalers and large enterprises.
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