At CPaaS Acceleration Summit 2024, the sentiment surrounding network APIs was notably optimistic. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative and Project CAMARA were highlighted as pivotal movements, particularly with active participation from leading operators like Deutsche Telekom, e& enterprise, KPN and Telin, all of which are advancing commercial deployments. The event’s timing was significant, occurring just days after Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson announced a joint venture with 12 global telcos aimed at accelerating the monetization of network APIs. This milestone is expected to enhance the commercial rollout of network APIs across the telecom industry, marking a crucial step forward in leveraging these technologies for growth.

Context

The CPaaS Acceleration Alliance is focused on fostering the growth and widespread adoption of communications PaaS offerings. The alliance unites a diverse array of stakeholders, including CPaaS providers, technology vendors, sales partners, industry experts and media representatives, all working collaboratively to enhance the CPaaS landscape.

Launched at Mobile World Congress 2023, the GSMA Open Gateway initiative is a transformative effort aimed at establishing a standardized framework for mobile operators. The framework enables operators to expose their networks as accessible platforms for developers. By providing APIs that facilitate secure access to mobile network capabilities — such as messaging, location services and billing — the initiative empowers third-party developers to create innovative applications and services. Ultimately, these advancements can lead to enriched customer experiences and new revenue opportunities for network operators, positioning them as vital players in the digital ecosystem.

Key highlights from the CPaaS Acceleration Summit

This year’s event attracted a diverse array of participants, including global network operators such as BT Business, Deutsche Telekom AG, e& enterprise, Koninklijke KPN NV and Telin, alongside representatives from the GSM Association. Key players in the communications PaaS landscape, including 2600hz, CM.com NV, EnableX, Infobip, Sinch AB and Vonage, were also in attendance, along with leading technology vendors like BICS, Cisco Systems Inc., Ericsson, Radisys and Speechmatics, plus startups Akixi, Enreach, Glide, Nabstract and Sabrhub.

It opened with an in-depth exploration of emerging growth opportunities for network operators through network APIs. While still in the early stages, the current deployment landscape demonstrates significant progress. As reported by the GSMA, service providers have successfully deployed and commercially launched CAMARA-compliant network APIs across 27 countries as of October – up from 23 in May. The first day of the summit featured several key discussions, emphasizing the potential of network APIs to drive innovation and revenue growth for telcos.

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Raul Castanon, Senior Analist, 451 Research (S&P Global Market Intelligence)