GSMA's CTO highlights progress of network API program

LAS VEGAS – MWC23 – According to the GSMA's CTO, roughly 35 mobile network operators around the world – representing about 60% of all mobile subscribers – have signed on to the association's new Open Gateway initiative.

That's noteworthy, said Alex Sinclair, because the GSMA formally unveiled its initiative just a few months ago, at the MWC Barcelona trade show earlier this year.

But that's just part of the story. Already operators – including Dish Network in the US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany – have said they will begin publishing APIs into their network through the program. Further, Verizon, Vodafone and Bell Canada said they conducted a holographic conference call using network APIs that stem from the 5G Future Forum (5GFF). Sinclair noted the APIs from the 5GFF have been included in the GSMA's Open Gateway initiative.

According to Sinclair, the GSMA continues to work to drum up interest in and support for its network API push. The latest: The association plans to host an awards event to showcase developers that are making use of the APIs in the program.

In comments to Light Reading, Sinclair discussed the progress of the GSMA's Open Gateway initiative and where it's headed next.