In our new digital ecosystem, it is important for telecom operators and cloud providers to collaborate. Look at telecom operators; they have come a long way in developing platforms and technologies to connect everyone and everything. The goal of these efforts is to create a seamless and integrated network that allows devices and people to communicate and share data with each other in real-time.

For mobile telecom operators to integrate with cloud services, however, federating open network APIs and applying the roaming concept of interoperability is a big need. This need is answered as the GSMA revealed a new industry-wide initiative called GSMA Open Gateway (News - Alert), a framework of universal network APIs, designed to provide universal access to operator networks for developers.

The gateway is launched with the support of 21 mobile network operators, and the move represents a shift in the way the telecoms industry designs and delivers services in an API economy world.

“GSMA (News - Alert) Open Gateway will enable single points of access to ultra-broadband networks and provide a catalyst for immersive technologies and Web3 – giving them the ability to fulfill their potential and reach critical mass,” said José María Álvarez-Pallete López, GSMA Board Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Telefónica.

GSMA Open Gateway is expected to help developers and cloud providers enhance and deploy services more quickly via single points of access to operator networks. This is achieved through common, northbound service APIs that expose mobile operators' network capabilities within a consistent, interoperable and federated framework.

GSMA Open Gateway APIs are defined, developed and published in CAMARA, the open-source project for developers to access enhanced network capabilities, driven by the Linux Foundation (News - Alert) in collaboration with the GSMA.

The initiative launches with eight universal network APIs, including SIM Swap, QoD, Device Status, Number Verify, Edge Site Selection and Routing, Number Verification, Carrier Billing – Check Out and Device Location.

There are plans to launch further APIs throughout 2023.

"By applying the concept of interconnection for operators to the API economy developers can utilize technology once, for services such as identity, cybersecurity or billing, but with the potential to be integrated with every operator worldwide,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA. “This is a profound change in the way we design and deliver services.”

Signatories to the GSMA Open Gateway Memorandum of Understanding are America Movil, AT&T (News - Alert), Axiata, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, e& Group, KDDI, KT, Liberty Global, MTN, Orange, Singtel, Swisscom, STC, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, TIM, Verizon (News - Alert) and Vodafone.