The evolution of network APIs is one of the telecom sector’s most compelling growth opportunities.
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have long connected disparate systems, but within telecommunications, their transformation holds a pivotal role in ushering networks from siloed infrastructure toward open, programmable platforms.
Juniper Research’s latest market study underscores how global network operators can unlock new applications, reshaping digital connectivity and enterprise innovation.
Network API Market Development
Historically, telecommunication networks have operated under a closed model, restricting third-party access and fostering complexity for developers.
The new paradigm, supported by initiatives such as GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA, is shifting the narrative.
Operators are now embracing standardized APIs, allowing developers to integrate advanced network capabilities directly into their applications, bypassing proprietary barriers and unlocking greater innovativeness.
These network APIs, whether branded as CAMARA APIs, Open Gateway APIs, or telco APIs, essentially serve as bridges, enabling applications, web browsers, and databases to communicate seamlessly with telecom networks.
Yet, the market remains in its infancy, with Juniper Research projecting operator revenues from network APIs will be just $283 million by the end of 2025 — a figure dwarfed by the anticipated $8 billion by 2030.
Key Market Insights and Standout Statistics
By 2030, Juniper envisions the network API market vaulting to $8.1 billion in operator revenue, representing a 28-fold increase over five years.
The lion’s share of this growth — over 60 percent — will come from authentication and fraud prevention APIs like SIM Swap, Number Verification, and Know Your Customer (KYC).
- $8 Billion by 2030: Total operator revenue forecast, vs. $284 million in 2025.
- 60 percent of 2030 revenue will be attributed to authentication and fraud APIs.
- KYC/KYB market: Expected to surpass $52 billion globally by 2029, indicating immense demand for identity and verification services powered by APIs.
- 6.5 Billion cellular IoT connections: Forecast for 2030, framing the massive opportunity for location-based APIs.
These figures highlight the outsized market opportunity — a testament to pent-up demand and the vast potential for new digital services enabled by secure, scalable network APIs.
The API Use Cases Driving Adoption
Operators are pioneering APIs in areas that offer genuine business value, particularly those addressing fraud, identity verification, and data services:
- Location Verification: Allows enterprises to validate user proximity within a defined region. While GPS alternatives exist, telecom-powered APIs offer additional cross-referencing value, especially for IoT deployments where cellular connectivity is critical.
- Number Verification: Offers instant confirmation of a mobile device’s SIM at sign-up or transaction, removing friction from traditional SMS-based OTPs, which are increasingly susceptible to artificially inflated traffic and rising costs. This API is already commercialized in markets like China, Germany, Spain, and Indonesia.
- SIM Swap: Critical for detecting fraudulent SIM changes, particularly relevant in banking and eCommerce, where unauthorized account access can have severe consequences. The ability to bundle SIM Swap with Number Verification enables stronger authentication frameworks.
- KYC APIs: With regulations tightening in banking, insurance, eCommerce, and gambling, APIs that enable rapid, reliable age verification, identity matching, and user tenure checks are vital. Operators must modernize their data infrastructure to monetize these APIs, ensuring data reliability and regulatory compliance.
Market Trends and Strategic Opportunities
While the market potential is vast, operators face several hurdles:
- Fragmented business models and operator-specific APIs currently inhibit broad adoption. Juniper’s report emphasizes the need for simple, harmonized freemium models and unified business practices to drive developer uptake and aggregator efficiency.
- Many enterprises and developers remain unfamiliar with telecom APIs and their application possibilities. Operator investment in documentation, training, and engagement will be essential to spur adoption.
- Particularly for services like location verification, competitive forces mean operators must price APIs competitively or risk enterprises gravitating to alternatives.
- Collaboration among operators, especially within regions, is paramount for scalable KYC, fraud, and verification services. A solution that verifies only part of a population isn’t viable; unified coverage builds confidence and utility for enterprise customers.
Outlook for Network API Applications Growth
The coming five years will set the trajectory for network APIs at scale. Operators who approach the API economy with a startup mentality — prioritizing market growth, developer experience, and collaborative business models — will capture the lion’s share of new value.
Early leaders in authentication and fraud prevention APIs set the tone, but as offerings diversify into IoT, communication quality, device information, and beyond, the market will become richer and more competitive.
"Network operators must leverage the advanced capabilities of the KYC API to charge a higher fee per API call; thus pushing greater revenue growth," said Alex Webb, senior research analyst at Juniper Research.
That said, I believe the network API opportunity bridges the telecom sector from legacy infrastructure to open platforms that are pivotal for digital transformation.
The operators who invest in standards, education, and robust API ecosystems — while forging partnerships with channel innovators, aggregators, and CPaaS providers — will serve as architects of a much larger API-enabled future.