Offering CAMARA APIs as a Service
This approach leverages standardized TMF APIs and middleware layers to integrate CAMARA APIs seamlessly with existing 5G or B5G services, minimizing the need for extensive modifications to current services.
This presentation proposes a CAMARA as a Service approach that enables network operators to control already existing services exposed through TMF APIs.
This approach leverages standardized TMF APIs and middleware layers to integrate CAMARA APIs seamlessly with existing 5G or B5G services, minimizing the need for extensive modifications to current services.
To demonstrate this concept they showcase a practical use case: controlling an already existing QoS Profile Enforcer Service for 5G User Equipment through a CAMARA API.
What Are GSMA CAMARA APIs?
CAMARA is an open-source project launched in 2022 to define, develop, and test APIs that simplify access to 4G and 5G network capabilities.
It collaborates with GSMA to align API requirements and publishes these APIs under an Apache 2.0 license, making them freely available to developers, telcos, and ecosystem partners. The initiative seeks to abstract the complexity of telecom networks, offering user-friendly, northbound APIs that hide underlying technical intricacies (e.g., 3GPP standards) while meeting privacy and regulatory requirements.
- Mission: Transform operator networks into service enablement platforms by exposing capabilities like quality of service (QoS), location tracking, and fraud prevention to third parties—developers, enterprises, and hyperscalers.
- Scope: Focuses on customer-facing “Service APIs” (for invoking capabilities) and “Service Management APIs” (for managing those services), while leaving east-west federation APIs (e.g., roaming) to other standards bodies like TM Forum.
CAMARA ensures APIs are consistent across operators and countries, enabling developers to “build once, deploy everywhere.” This addresses historical fragmentation seen in early telco API efforts (e.g., Telefonica’s Bluevía).
APIs are RESTful, leveraging OpenAPI 3.0 specifications for developer-friendly integration.
Works with GSMA Open Gateway (a commercial framework) and integrates with TM Forum’s operational APIs, creating a cohesive ecosystem for network-as-a-service (NaaS).
The GSMA CAMARA APIs are a cornerstone of the telco industry’s shift toward a platform-based, API-driven future. By standardizing access to network capabilities, CAMARA empowers telcos to unlock new revenue streams—projected to grow significantly by 2028—while fostering innovation across sectors like automotive, finance, and entertainment. Its integration with Open Gateway and alignment with TM Forum ensures a robust ecosystem, though success hinges on broader adoption and proven commercial outcomes.
Why the Network API Sector Needs Scale
Deutsche Telekom’s Nathan Rader, who is also chair of the governing body of the CAMARA project, provides an update on the development of telco network APIs, outlines what still needs to be done to accelerate API developments and deployments, explains the importance of industry-wide collaboration and scale, and provides an update on how Deutsche Telekom is progressing with its common exposure platform and APIs.
