According to a report by Juniper Research, global operator revenue from telecommunications application programming interfaces (APIs) will grow substantially, from $ 50 billion in 2024 to more than $ 111 billion by 2027.
As per the report, telecommunications APIs provide operators with a tool to integrate their network capabilities and services into a single application, offering a channel to monetise their 5G networks.
The report highlighted that operators’ biggest challenge in capitalising on this revenue growth is maximising the exposure of these APIs. The report has identified network connectivity APIs as a key driver of API revenue, accounting for over 20 per cent global operators’ API revenue by 2027. Connectivity APIs, such as network slicing, guarantee enterprises acceptable network conditions, such as high throughput and low latency. The report forecasts these APIs will generate $ 72 billion for operators over the next four years.
The report stated that however, network connectivity APIs are resource-intensive use cases requiring real-time adjustments of network functionality. While these APIs command a higher fee per API call, the operators will also face challenges in scaling APIs as demand grows.
Commenting on the report, Molly Gatford, research author, said, “To accomplish both exposure and scalability, networks must employ various technologies, including cloud computing, network function virtualisation, and open radio access technologies, to be able to meet the demands from enterprises for network connectivity.”
