The Open Gateway project, promoted by the GSMA, continues to establish itself as one of the most ambitious initiatives in the telecommunications sector to transform mobile networks into a global platform of standardized APIs. During MWC 2026 it was confirmed that the ecosystem continues to grow both in number of operators and technological partners, which demonstrates that the initiative has surpassed the conceptual phase and is moving towards real implementation on a global scale.
The idea behind Open Gateway is relatively simple, although its impact is profound: convert the mobile network, traditionally conceived as a passive connectivity infrastructure, into a programmable platform accessible through common APIs around the world. Until now, each operator had its own interfaces, forcing companies and developers to carry out specific integrations for each country or provider. Standardization changes this paradigm, allowing access to advanced network capabilities in a homogeneous way, regardless of the market in which it operates.
In this context, the GSMA has announced that 86 operator groups are now part of the initiative, representing more than 80% of global mobile connections in more than 300 networks. Added to this are more than 60 partners among hyperscale companies, aggregators and CPaaS providers that market these APIs on a large scale. These figures reflect that the model is reaching critical mass and that there is a clear commitment on the part of the industry to promote a common framework.
A fundamental pillar of Open Gateway is the CAMARA project, jointly developed by the Linux Foundation and the GSMA. CAMARA is responsible for defining and standardizing network APIs that allow developers to access capabilities such as authentication, quality of service or functions associated with 5G in a unified manner. What started in 2023 with eight APIs has grown into a portfolio of 20 different APIs, with over 300 business use cases deployed across markets. This evolution shows that standardization does not remain at the theoretical level, but is already generating real applications.
From infrastructure to platform: a commitment to the programmable network
Among the most notable benefits is the reinforcement of security and the prevention of fraud. Thanks to these APIs, financial institutions and businesses can verify in real time if a SIM card has been recently changed—a key mechanism for detecting SIM swap fraud—or validate certain identity attributes directly from the network. This allows sensitive transactions to be protected more effectively and reduces risks to the user.
Another relevant capability is called Quality on Demand, which allows an application to dynamically request a higher level of network performance when it needs it. This is especially useful in services where latency or stability is critical, such as online payments, streaming, video games, industrial IoT systems, drones or autonomous vehicles. The network thus stops offering a uniform service and begins to adapt to the specific needs of each application.
Likewise, APIs related to mobility and location allow applications to be more responsive to context. Features such as geofencing or the discovery of nearby edge resources help optimize performance based on the location of the user or device, opening new possibilities for smarter and more personalized digital services.
Standardized APIs Power Agentic AI
However, one of the most relevant developments announced at MWC 2026 is the convergence between these standardized APIs and the so-called agentic AI. This concept refers to autonomous software agents capable of planning tasks, interacting with external systems and making decisions without human intervention. Under Open Gateway, these agents could automatically discover which APIs are available, select the most appropriate ones, combine them, and execute entire, goal-oriented flows.
One of the most relevant developments announced at MWC 2026 is the convergence between standardized APIs and agentic AI
Companies like Telefónica and Nokia are already experimenting with this new approach, developing pilot projects that use interaction protocols between agents to orchestrate complex tasks. Demonstrations have also been presented in collaboration with actors such as Orange, Google Cloud or AWS. In practice, this means that a fraud prevention system could automatically request SIM verifications from different operators, or that an IoT platform could autonomously adjust its performance requirements depending on the operational situation.
Together, Open Gateway is laying the foundation for a new model in which connectivity is not limited to providing Internet access, but is integrated as a programmable component within enterprise systems. Standardization facilitates global interoperability, reduces technical barriers for developers, and accelerates innovation. In the words of Henry Calvert, director of networks at the GSMA, “the result points towards a scenario in which the network becomes a strategic enabler of the digital economy, where connectivity is not only consumed, but programmed and orchestrated as an active part of the digital services of the future.”
