MWC Barcelona 2025 was buzzing with talk about Network APIs, AI, and telco transformation—but beyond the noise, what’s really happening in the market? In our latest CPaaSAA Talk, I sat down with Peter Arbitter (CCO, Aduna) and Fraser King (Sr Director Network APIs, Vonage) to unpack the industry’s trajectory, the role of Aduna, and how APIs are set to reshape telco revenue models.
MWC Takeaways: A Shift from Hype to Execution
Both Peter and Fraser agreed—MWC confirmed that Network APIs are now mainstream. The shift is no longer about proving the concept but scaling it:
• Peter: The conversation has moved beyond “why APIs?” to “how do we deploy them efficiently?” Operators and enterprises alike are eager to see real-world adoption.
• Fraser: The biggest surprise at MWC? The speed at which demand is growing, with enterprises looking for seamless, telco-grade integrations rather than just more API products.
• Peter: Another surprise? The strong demand for age verification APIs—something many telcos hadn’t expected to be such a priority for enterprises.
Aduna: A Major Move in API Monetization
Aduna, the joint venture of 14 telcos plus Ericsson, aims to aggregate and commercialize Network APIs at scale. But what makes this different from past telco initiatives?
• Aduna is built to execute. Unlike previous fragmented efforts, Aduna’s founding members have aligned around a unified approach to API delivery.
• Ericsson’s 50% stake ensures agility. Peter highlighted that having Ericsson as a 50% shareholder gives Aduna the speed and decision-making ability of a tech company, rather than a slow-moving telco JV. Combined with a strong management team, this structure helps Aduna stay nimble and execution-focused.
• It’s complementary to GSMA Open Gateway. While Open Gateway provides industry-wide standards, Aduna operationalizes and commercializes APIs across multiple operators.
• Telcos + hyperscalers + developers. The JV aims to bridge the gap between network owners and global platforms by making APIs easily consumable.
• Goal for 2025: Aduna plans to achieve full coverage in 17 countries by the end of the year, ensuring global availability for key APIs.
Vonage’s Role: Where It Fits in the API Ecosystem
With Vonage being Ericsson’s CPaaS and API arm, where does it stand in relation to Aduna?
• Fraser emphasized that Vonage and Aduna are complementary. Vonage focuses on API enablement and enterprise adoption, while Aduna provides the underlying network capabilities at scale.
• Network APIs are now embedded across Vonage’s product portfolio. Rather than treating Network APIs as standalone offerings, Vonage is integrating them into existing CPaaS, UCaaS, and CCaaS solutions.
• Focus on verticals and higher-level abstractions. Fraser noted that the goal is not just to expose raw network functionality but to build API abstractions that directly support industry-specific use cases.
Real-World Use Cases: How APIs Are Being Used Today
The real test of success for Network APIs is their ability to drive real business value. Two standout examples:
🚖 Cabify: Improving Ride-Hailing with Network APIs
Fraser highlighted how Cabify, the Spanish ride-hailing company, is using Quality of Service (QoS) APIs to prioritize network traffic for drivers and passengers. This ensures that ride requests, location tracking, and transactions remain smooth even in congested areas.
🛍️ Retail: Using Location APIs to Reduce Fraud
Peter shared an example from the retail sector, where businesses are leveraging network-based location verification APIs to reduce fraud in high-value e-commerce transactions. By confirming a user’s physical location via the mobile network, retailers can reduce chargebacks and unauthorized purchases.
Monetization & The Next Big Use Cases
One of the most pressing industry questions: how will telcos actually make money from APIs?
• Messaging & authentication are proven winners, but what’s next? Device location, QoS, fraud prevention, and identity verification are among the most promising areas.
• Revenue models are still evolving. Some APIs will be pay-per-use, others will follow a revenue-share model with developers and platforms.
• Bundling with AI. AI-driven network insights (e.g., intelligent traffic management) could unlock premium API services for enterprises.
How AI Will Change Everything
A big question to close: How does AI fit into this shift?
• AI + Network APIs = intelligent automation. Fraser sees AI as a way to dynamically optimize API-driven services, from fraud detection to network resource allocation.
• Personalization at scale. Peter highlighted that AI will help telcos offer network services on-demand based on real-time conditions—think adaptive security, predictive analytics, and ultra-reliable connectivity.
Looking Ahead: The Road to MWC 2026
If we fast-forward two years, what will success look like?
• For Aduna: A critical mass of telcos and enterprises actively using APIs in production.
• For Vonage: A seamless ecosystem where APIs are embedded into enterprise workflows, rather than just standalone telco services.
• For the industry: A proven business case where Network APIs are a significant revenue stream, not just an experiment.
The shift is happening—2025 is the year Network APIs move from hype to real-world adoption. The question is: who will execute fastest?
