In this forecast, we estimate the potential revenues for telecom operators from the commercialisation of mobile network APIs. We assess the opportunity across five API families, covering 22 individual APIs and 44 use cases.

About STL Partners’ network API monetisation forecast – second release

This report presents the analysis of the second release of our forecast for network API monetisation. The forecast is based on a bottom-up model analysing the demand for 22 network APIs from 46 main use cases. It shows the projected spend in 33 countries, seven regions and worldwide over the period from 2024 to 2030.

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The value of network APIs will reach USD31.5bn by 2030 – 8.5% lower than the original release in 2024

High-level findings from the model indicate that:

• There is now more available granularity of GSMA API rollouts on a per-market basis, so we have been able to reflect availability of certain APIs per market more accurately. This has significantly reduced the 2024–2026 numbers.
• However, we still believe that once demand is proven in early-mover markets, slower markets will catch up.
• The low-hanging fruit driving the opportunity in the short term are still identity APIs that address anti-fraud use cases, while long-term growth will come from network performance APIs.

Updated API forecast (2024 vs 2025): USD31.5bn by 2030

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Table of contents

• Executive summary
• Analysis of APIs
• Analysis of use cases
• Methodology
• Appendix

For more information on STL Partners’ enterprise research, please check our Enterprise Platforms hub.

Related research

• Mobile network APIs: Building successful commercial models
• Mobile network APIs: The opportunity beyond anti-fraud in financial services
• How telcos can put their stamp on digital identity
• Network API monetisation forecast 2023–2030: Growth beyond anti-fraud

Darius Singh

Darius Singh

Consulting Director & Practice Lead at STL Partners

Darius Singh is the Consulting Director & Practice Lead at STL Partners. He has led a range of client projects within edge computing, 5G, and data analytics