The steady rise of 5G technology brings with it myriad opportunities for telecommunication companies (telcos) to explore new horizons, particularly in the realm of application programming interfaces (APIs). Despite the relentless push by industry organizations to bridge this technological gap, a significant disconnect exists between software developers and the association of APIs with 5G networks. This challenge is highlighted by a recent survey conducted by the UK-based research firm STL Partners. The survey’s findings reveal that a notable 55 percent of developers do not link network APIs with 5G technology but instead view them as tools for managing IT, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud networks.
Conducted in November across a sample of 415 application developers from the United States and the United Kingdom, the survey presents both a challenge and an opportunity for network operators. Impactful integration of new capabilities in a way that is recognized and adopted by developers demands a refined presentation familiar to them. Amy Cameron, the research director at STL Partners, suggests that operators need to actively promote their APIs by emphasizing similarities with existing ones. This promotion emphasizes consistent functionalities such as the management of network functions, control over resource access, and data exchange across varied networks, all now within the innovative realm of 5G.
The Developer Community and Their Perception
While there’s a substantial level of interest within the developer community, nearly half of the surveyed developers are already engaged in creating applications that could significantly benefit from high-performance connectivity. Industry-driven API initiatives like GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA have garnered awareness among a majority of developers. However, they still largely perceive network APIs as mainly tools for data exchange and communication across different networks rather than as tools specifically designed to leverage the capabilities of 5G.
More than half of the respondents (54 percent) understand the value of network APIs in accessing performance information, such as latency and jitter, essential metrics for evaluating 5G performance. Additionally, half of the developers acknowledge the significance of understanding device status on the network. Forty-four percent see potential in using 5G APIs to guarantee specific network performance levels for set durations. Despite these recognitions, the primary challenge for telcos is to transition developers’ perspectives from traditional API uses to the broader and more powerful capabilities offered by 5G-enhanced APIs.
Reaching Developers Through Preferred Channels
One of the most important findings of the survey underlines that developers are particularly interested in the capabilities offered by telcos but are accustomed to interfacing with APIs through major cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Notably, Microsoft leads in providing the best overall customer experience for telecom APIs. Consequently, developers prefer to continue using APIs in familiar ways, either through a subscription basis or bundled services. The challenge, therefore, is not just about demonstrating the value of 5G but doing so through channels that developers already know and trust.
For telcos to genuinely engage developers through their preferred channels, it becomes crucial to build collaborations with systems integrators and develop direct channels. Leveraging existing relationships with aggregator hubs can also lower adoption barriers. This multifaceted approach is advised to broaden the reach and include not only priority communication developers but also the broader enterprise productivity, IT, and IoT developer markets. Amy Cameron emphasizes the necessity for the telecom industry to facilitate API access through familiar channels such as cloud platforms and systems integrators to encourage widespread developer adoption.
Adapting Telco Strategies to Developer Habits
The rise of 5G technology offers telecommunication companies (telcos) numerous opportunities, especially in the area of application programming interfaces (APIs). However, there’s a significant disconnect between software developers and the association of APIs with 5G networks, despite industry efforts to bridge this gap. This issue is highlighted by a survey conducted by the UK-based research firm STL Partners. The survey revealed that 55 percent of developers do not associate network APIs with 5G technology, viewing them instead as tools for managing IT, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud networks.
The survey, carried out in November with 415 application developers from the U.S. and UK, presents both challenges and opportunities for network operators. Effectively integrating new capabilities that developers recognize and adopt requires a familiar presentation. According to Amy Cameron, research director at STL Partners, operators should actively promote their APIs by highlighting similarities with existing ones. This promotion should focus on functions like network management, resource access control, and data exchange across various networks, now empowered by 5G technology.