As we inch closer to Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) are a hot ticket item within the telecoms industry. They are a way for telco operators to provide developers with access to network capabilities, enhancing user experience and offering more efficient services, while unlocking new features otherwise not possible. APIs have unlocked opportunities across supply chains, with notable successes including app stores like Apple's and Google's, cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure, and various consumer and enterprise services.
Deploying the right computing resources and related toolkits is essential for the success of any API project. The mobile ecosystem must shift its focus from communications to computing as it unlocks novel use cases and is the key to driving higher revenue. Network APIs will play a critical role in this digital transformation as they allow developers to access innovative 5G features for software applications. Technical limitations that once held network APIs back—lack of standardization, interoperability issues, and fragmented frameworks—have largely been addressed. Despite the promise of network slicing, edge computing, Quality of Service (QoS) on Demand, and security-enhanced APIs, mobile operators continue to be unclear about the true value proposition of network APIs. Today, the real barrier to commercialization isn’t technology, but the industry’s reluctance to fully commit to APIs as a strategic priority.
If telcos adapt accordingly, they are looking at a US$13.4 billion network API market by 2028. Within the halls of Fira Barcelona Gran Via, our analysts will be looking to see if mobile ecosystem players have effectively shifted their mindset to capture this opportunity.
The Cultural Roadblock Holding Back Network APIs
The latest iteration of network APIs—referred to as “Network APIs 2.0”—represents a dramatic shift from their first iteration, which focused on competing against handset manufacturer app stores, but did not make any impact and most API initiatives were decommissioned. Today’s network APIs target enterprise, industrial, and smart city applications, offering network-powered solutions for automation, Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, Extended Reality (XR), and beyond.
However, ABI Research sees systemic failure within mobile operators to recognize the true revenue potential of network APIs. On one side of the coin, vendors and hyperscalers—such as Ericsson, Nokia, Oracle, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud—have been aggressive in developing API-driven solutions. But on the other hand, telcos remain hesitant, risk-averse, and slow to adopt open business models that truly empower app developers.
Without a fundamental cultural shift, operators risk falling into the same trap as Network APIs 1.0: failing to engage developers and struggling to monetize new capabilities. At MWC 2025, ABI Research expects to see continued discussion around these pain points. And unless operators move beyond legacy business models and embrace developer-centric innovation, network API adoption will remain limited.
To build developer interest in API offerings, our team anticipates that telcos will showcase how they commit to API-centric business models, embrace open developer ecosystems, provide low/no-code interfaces, and leverage cloud resources. This will enable mobile operators to possess the top-down cultural mindset required for network API buy-in, while providing an easy-to-use and highly accessible platform that the developer community craves.
Why APIs Are Essential for the Comms-to-Compute Transformation
Telcos have longed to become techcos and provide a variety of technology solutions to enterprise clients. They cannot develop these applications themselves, and need a strong partner ecosystem to create applications and solutions for different enterprise verticals. This is how hyperscalers have succeeded in fiercely competitive markets. Telcos need to familiarize themselves with network APIs and expose technology, and specifically computing capabilities, not only connectivity.
Telcos need to prioritize network APIs and offer solutions to existing enterprise challenges, rather than create technologies looking for problems to solve. For example, a prominent 5G network slicing use case has been remote surgery, but the healthcare vertical places very little—if any at all—priority on this use case. This is the challenge APIs can solve; telcos do not need to develop applications themselves, but provide the easy-to-use and intuitive platform for developers to find the killer enterprise application. Some activity is already taking place to that effect, but telcos have a long road ahead.
Catch Our Other Posts:
Comms to Compute: Will the Mobile Ecosystem Transform at MWC 2025?
ABI Research's Expectations for AI and Compute at MWC 2025
MWC-2025: East-West Divide amid Compute-Comms Convergence
Connect with Us at MWC 2025
At MWC 2025, ABI Research analysts will be closely monitoring whether operators can break free from outdated, closed-off business models and give network APIs the attention they desperately need. To stay ahead of these developments, connect with our team at the event and look out for our post-show whitepaper covering how mobile players plan to take advantage of the shift from comms to compute.
