What developers should know about network APIs

Telecom networks are becoming more than just infrastructure, with network API exposure turning them into smart, programmable platforms.

Developers from many fields, not just telecom, are now beginning to use these network capabilities, such as locating devices, detecting SIM swaps, running KYC (know your customer) matches, and requesting high-priority network speed through the Quality on Demand API. This is no longer science fiction, it is already happening. Programs like CAMARA and GSMA Open Gateway have made it possible.

In this article, I will discuss how giving developers access to these powerful network APIs is transforming the way applications are built, deployed, and delivered, as well as what this means for the future of software development.

From connectivity to programmability

For a long time, developers thought of telecom networks as “dumb pipes” that only connected applications and did nothing else. Now, with some of the most powerful network functionalities available through APIs, developers are starting to program them.

Let’s look at what this means for real-world development.

Location Verification API: Find out where your users really are

The Location Verification API allows applications to use telecom data in addition to GPS to confirm a user’s network-verified location. This makes it possible to:

Prevent banking fraud: Detect when a user’s device is in a different location from where a transaction is occurring

Enable context-aware services: Retail apps can display hyperlocal deals only when the user is actually in the store

Secure access control: Government or logistics apps can verify that someone is in a sensitive region without relying on spoofable GPS signals

In this case, trust is what matters. The user cannot falsify this information. Today, developers build applications on what the network verifies as true.

SIM Swap API: Stopping account takeovers before they happen

Cybercriminals steal mobile identities to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) and drain bank accounts. SIM swap fraud has become a significant problem. Through the SIM Swap API, network providers allow developers to get a simple yet important signal: Has the SIM card for this user changed recently?

Using the SIM Swap API, fintech platforms can block suspicious transactions, authentication systems can trigger alternative 2FA methods, and new accounts can be protected before they are compromised. For developers, this is a major step forward in digital trust, shifting app security from reactive to proactive.

Quality on Demand API: Performance boost for network-aware apps

This is a game-changer. Using the Quality on Demand API, developers can request better network performance with low latency and steady bandwidth for a specific application session. Examples include:

Telemedicine apps ensuring video quality during consultations

Gaming apps enhancing performance during competitive matches

Autonomous vehicles prioritizing communication when safety is at risk

“Best-effort” networks are giving way to “fit-for-purpose” networks. Developers can now be factored into how performance is allocated.

Applications that work with the network

As developers begin interacting directly with the network, we are seeing the rise of network-native applications. Just as cloud-native apps transformed how businesses use software, network-native apps are starting to reshape industries that depend on mobility, identity, and real-time performance.

The telecom layer will directly provide fraud detection to banking apps

Location APIs will help supply chain systems verify deliveries

QoS (Quality of Service) APIs will allow streaming platforms to request prioritized bandwidth for live events, ensuring smooth playback

Apps that work with the network are replacing apps that merely use it.

What as changed for developers?

The key change is this: For security and compliance, network APIs are the go-to layer. No more hunting for vulnerabilities or guessing where risks might be. When you call an API, you get telco-grade validation.

Application logic becomes simpler, and business value increases. Instead of building their own fraud engines or location-spoofing detectors, developers can tap into reliable network intelligence. The use cases span industries. Whether you are in fintech, retail, logistics, healthcare, or gaming, the network is now part of your developer tool set.

Certainly, there are challenges. There are genuine risks of misuse, security breaches, privacy violations, and lack of consent. The industry has responded with:

Strict standardization (CAMARA and GSMA Open Gateway, for example)

3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) consent frameworks

Shared ethical principles such as Privacy by Design and Responsible AI

For this ecosystem to thrive, developers must treat these APIs with the same level of care as payment gateways or medical data.

A new superpower for programmers

I have seen developers evolve for years. The cloud gave them scale. Tools like low-code platforms and large language models brought them ease and speed. Now, network APIs are helping them make applications smarter and more aware. The future app will not only be smarter but also connected to the truth of the network.

The doors are open. The APIs are ready. A new generation of applications is emerging. They are smart, aware of their surroundings, and safe, thanks to developers who are starting to harness them. We are now building the future with the network, not just with code and the cloud.

—

New Tech Forum provides a venue for technology leaders—including vendors and other outside contributors—to explore and discuss emerging enterprise technology in unprecedented depth and breadth. The selection is subjective, based on our pick of the technologies we believe to be important and of greatest interest to InfoWorld readers. InfoWorld does not accept marketing collateral for publication and reserves the right to edit all contributed content. Send all inquiries to doug_dineley@foundryco.com.