Network APIs hit a turning point in 2025, but risks and rewards remain uneven

Network APIs hit a turning point in 2025, but risks and rewards remain uneven is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• 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. 

What happened: A milestone year for network APIs

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. 

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. 

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Why it’s important

The developments in 2025 indicate that network APIs are no longer experimental add-ons but could become fundamental to how telecoms interact with software developers, enterprises and new digital services. Standardisation efforts like CAMARA are designed to reduce fragmentation and foster interoperability, potentially enabling a more vibrant API ecosystem across regions and operators. 

However, the rush towards commercialisation has not erased significant challenges. Security emerged as one of the industry’s biggest concerns, with API breaches, authentication flaws and “shadow APIs” — undocumented and unmanaged interfaces — posing real risks to operators and enterprise users. These vulnerabilities have the potential to expose sensitive data and violate privacy laws, harming reputations and finances alike. 

Moreover, while forecasts for revenue growth are optimistic, they should be approached with some caution. Success hinges not only on technical standardisation and partnerships but also on whether operators and ecosystem participants can deliver secure, user-friendly APIs with clear monetisation models and strong developer engagement. Poor security or clunky interfaces could alienate developers and slow adoption. 

The industry’s future with network APIs remains promising but fraught with obstacles. As operators scale up programmable network initiatives, their ability to manage security risks and build truly interoperable ecosystems will determine whether 2025 was a genuine inflection point or merely a transitional year.