TM Forum and GSMA unlock network powers for developers

TM Forum and the GSMA are making it easier for app developers to access mobile network capabilities to create exciting new services.

Have you ever wondered how your favourite apps tap into your mobile network to provide location services, messaging features, or video calls? Behind the scenes, there’s been a complicated tangle of technical standards making this rather challenging.

TM Forum and the GSMA have created a unified way for mobile operators to share their network capabilities with app developers in a bid to tackle this complexity.

Think of it like creating a universal power adapter—instead of needing different plugs for different countries, app developers now get a standardised way to “plug into” mobile networks anywhere in the world.

This is about making it much easier for your favourite apps to use the full power of 5G networks. When developers can easily access network features, consumers ultimately get better and more reliable services including:

• More innovative apps that can do things they couldn’t before
• Better quality video calls and streaming
• Location-based services that work more consistently
• Smoother experiences when using apps across different countries
• New types of services that take advantage of 5G’s capabilities

Before this announcement, mobile operators had to navigate a confusing mix of different standards and processes to make their network features available to app developers. It’s a bit like having to speak multiple languages just to order a coffee in different cafés in the same city.

The new programme brings together APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) under one certification process. In plain English, these APIs are like instruction manuals that tell developers how to access specific network features, such as checking your connection speed or finding your approximate location.

Telefónica, the company behind networks like O2 in the UK, has already tested the new approach. They’re using it to simplify how they work with app developers while maintaining control over who can access their network—keeping your data secure while opening up new possibilities.

Andrea Folgueiras, Global CTIO at Telefónica, explained: “At Telefónica, we believe that this joint certification agreement reached by TM Forum and GSMA is highly beneficial for operators and the industry in general.

“This common approach means enhanced efficiency, reduced integration costs, and the ability to deliver network services at an effective scale to our customers, allowing us to achieve the benefits expected from the Open Gateway program.”

Since launching last year, this initiative has gained impressive support, with operators representing nearly 80% of mobile connections worldwide joining in. That’s good news for developers and consumers, as it means more consistency across mobile networks and countries.

Nik Willetts, CEO of TM Forum, said: “Our members are leading the industry’s transformation toward a composable, plug-and-play future, built on Open Digital Architecture. TM Forum’s Open API project has laid solid foundations—helping to scale interoperability and accelerate monetisation across the ecosystem.

“Today’s unified certification program builds on that success, reducing integration friction and giving global confidence in interoperable APIs. This milestone reflects the strength of our long-standing collaboration with the GSMA and our shared commitment to building an open, vibrant API economy. By working together, we’re shaping the future of connectivity.”

As more mobile operators adopt this unified approach, we should begin to see the benefits in our everyday mobile experiences. New apps might appear that couldn’t exist before, and existing services could become more reliable or gain new features.

Henry Calvert, Head of Network at GSMA, commented: “By unifying conformance certification for all APIs within the Open Gateway framework, we are further simplifying access to network capabilities, ensuring enterprise developers can create transformative services utilising the full potential of 5G networks.

“The work being done with TM Forum ensures that telecoms operators and developers alike can benefit from seamless integration and standardised frameworks, paving the way for a more connected and efficient API-driven ecosystem.”

The technical framework being built here is a bit like constructing modern roads that connect previously isolated villages—once they’re in place, people can travel between them easily, bringing new opportunities to everyone.

For most of us, these changes will happen behind the scenes, but the results should be mobile services that simply work better and do more for us in our daily lives—and that’s something very much worth looking forward to.

(Photo by Harpal Singh)

See also: Optus taps Ericsson for smarter, greener 5G network

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Tags: 5G, connectivity, developers, gsma, mobile, networks, services, telecoms, tm forum