Trends
Network APIs hit a turning point in 2025, but risks and rewards remain uneven
Telecom network APIs reached a key inflection point in 2025, driven by standardisation efforts and partnerships, but security risks remain.
Headline
Telecom network APIs reached a key inflection point in 2025, driven by standardisation efforts and partnerships, but security risks remain.
Context
After years of experimentation and pilot projects, 2025 emerged as a pivotal year for network APIs, with several initiatives and industry partnerships propelling these interfaces out of niche use and into broader commercial relevance. One of the year’s defining developments was the formal launch of Aduna, a venture built on the GSMA’s CAMARA standardisation framework and backed by major vendors and operators, including Ericsson alongside about a dozen global operators. The project aims to bridge gaps between API suppliers and the demand side, addressing a fragmented market.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
Operators responded by embedding standardised APIs into real networks. In the United States, mobile network operators teamed up on standardised 5G APIs for number verification and SIM swap functions. In Canada, Aduna announced a strategic partnership with EnStream — the venture owned by Bell Mobility , Rogers Communications , and TELUS — to integrate advanced network APIs into the Aduna platform. Other collaborations included Ericsson and Telstra’s deployment of what was described as Asia-Pacific’s first fully programmable 5G Advanced network, designed to support dynamic API-driven services, and partnerships between Telefonica and Nokia on 5G standalone APIs. Bharti Airtel’s work with Nokia aimed to broaden access to network APIs for third-party developers in India. Several forecasts underscore the commercial potential of these technologies: Juniper Research predicts network API revenue could reach US$8 billion by 2030, while a broader category of communications APIs could hit US$35 billionglobally. STL Partners has also forecast tens of billions in telco API revenues by 2030, especially for identity and location APIs. Also Read: UK speeds up planning and power access for new AI zone Also Read: UK broadband users urged to claim outage compensation
Key Points
- The telecom industry saw 2025 as a landmark year for network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), driven by new standardisation efforts and partnerships.
- Despite commercial momentum and revenue forecasts, security concerns and fragmented implementation raise questions about whether APIs will deliver on their promise.
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
