Call for Inputs on interfaces for mobile networks for developers and third-party services
Deadline to submit contributions: 26 August 2026, 17:00 CEST
Background
Network Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) play a pivotal role by enabling operators to make their network capabilities available to third-party developers and the wider digital ecosystem. This will accelerate digital transformation by driving innovation in new services and improving the digital experience across industry sectors. The APIs provide access to useful network features, enabling users to retrieve specific information from the network or configure it to meet certain quality parameters (network programmability), such as Quality on Demand (QoD) API.
In the past, this market was fragmented, with each operator offering proprietary interfaces, which did not lead to wider acceptance because it made it difficult for developers to build scalable services that could work across different networks. The GSMA Open Gateway, a global initiative, aims to solve this problem by standardising APIs that work across different platforms. This initiative was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2023 and launched with the support of 21 mobile network operators and 8 APIs. Today, it is supported by 86 operator groups, representing more than 300 networks and around 80% of global mobile connections, with support of 20 different APIs commercially launched. The most important element of the initiative is collaboration with the Linux Foundation and the CAMARA project, which is an open-source project launched in 2022, with an aim to define, develop and test the APIs. It is worth noting that the GSMA Open Gateway is not the only global initiative, and there are others such as the TM Forum or ETSI MEC. However, BEREC understands that these initiatives are intended to complement the work through collaborations and not to compete with each other.
Standardised APIs under the CAMARA project initiative are divided into two categories – mature APIs and APIs in earlier development. It is worth noting that at the time of publishing this call for inputs, 38 APIs are listed as mature while 30 APIs are listed in earlier development. According to the latest data available, 228 APIs (including the same APIs offered by different operators) are deployed and supported by operators in Europe.
BEREC understands that this initiative is gaining global recognition and acceptance, and that its implementation extends from supporting authentication or anti-fraud services (such as KYC or SIM swap APIs) to more advanced APIs that enable network programmability, such as QoD, Network Slice Booking, or Optimal Edge Discovery APIs. BEREC also understands that network APIs are driving innovation in the digital markets, creating new business opportunities and enabling APIs integration into the development of future applications that require ultra-low latency and guaranteed network performance, such as applications in autonomous and software-defined vehicles, smart cities and industrial automation.
Aim of BEREC’s Call for Inputs
In light of the developments outlined above, BEREC is interested in finding out more about the following questions:
How does the ecosystem work?
1. What roles has each player in this complex ecosystem: MNOs, MVNOs, MVNEs, Aggregators, network vendors, CPaaS providers, Channel providers, Developers, cloud providers, end users, etc.?
How will the market be developed?
2. Can you provide any publicly available information on (current/future) market demand analysis, market prediction/projection and market development?
3. Can you provide any publicly available information on business models and successful pricing models?
4. In what way can Open APIs enable or support a dynamic and well-functioning European market of both application service developers and providers as well as telecom service providers?
5. How can the adoption of network APIs be accelerated?
6. What are the main drivers for the successful adoption of Open APIs in Europe?
What are the main challenges?
7. What are the main technical and commercial challenges, from the perspective of MNOs, MVNOs, MVNEs, Aggregators, network vendors, CPaaS providers, Channel providers, Developers, cloud providers, end users, etc.?
8. Do you see any regulatory challenges, for instance, with regard to enabling certain APIs or an evolution towards a well-functioning market?
9. To what extent are the current APIs truly interoperable across operators with network equipment from different vendors in Europe? Are there differences in interoperability between certain application sectors or other aspects?
Submit your contributions
All stakeholders are invited to submit their contributions via email to [email protected] by Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 17:00 CEST.
We strongly encourage all stakeholders to submit their contributions as early as possible. Contributions received after the deadline mentioned above will not be considered.
After submitting the contribution via email, an automatic confirmation reply will be generated. If you do not receive this confirmation email, the contribution submission was not successful and should be resubmitted.
Contributions should preferably be submitted in English. Please ensure that the overall size of the email (including attachments) does not exceed 2 MB.
In accordance with BEREC’s privacy policy on public consultations, all contributions will be published on the BEREC website, taking into account requests for confidentiality and publication of personal data. Upon submission, stakeholders can request confidentiality of all or part of the documents submitted to the public consultation. If there is no clear indication that all or parts of the documents are confidential, BEREC will presume that the documents can be made publicly available. Please note that it is also possible to submit both a confidential and a public version of a given contribution.