A group of telcos from around the world is partnering on a new venture to combine and sell network application programming interfaces (APIs) on a global scale to spur innovation in digital services.
Joining hands are telcos such as América Móvil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone, as well as tech giant Ericsson.
The new venture aims to help developers better interact with telecom networks by providing unified access to advanced mobile network capabilities across a broader ecosystem of developer platforms.
A unified interface to multiple carriers will dramatically reduce the complexity of leveraging telecom network features. This allows developers to focus on building innovative applications rather than managing integrations.
Easily accessible advanced network capabilities will shape app development and empower developers to create new use cases across industries. These could include anti-fraud verification for financial transactions and the ability to check device status so streaming providers can dynamically adjust video quality.
The newly-formed company will provide network APIs to a broad ecosystem of developer platforms, including hyperscalers, communications platform-as-a-service providers, system integrators and independent software vendors.
It will team up with Vonage and Google Cloud to provide access to their ecosystems of millions of developers as well as their partners.
The new venture shareholders will bring funding and important assets, including Ericsson’s platform and network expertise, global telecom operator relationships, knowledge of the developer community and each telecom operator’s network APIs, expertise, and marketing.
Other telcos are encouraged to join the new company to further drive the industry and developer experience, and allow all participants to tap into a significant new revenue opportunity.
Subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed early 2025. Ericsson will then hold 50 percent of the equity while the telcos will hold the other 50 percent.
Entelechy Asia 