GSMA Open Gateway Initiative
Jakarta, February 21, 2024 – As part of the implementation of the GSMA Open Gateway global initiative, four Indonesian telecom operators—Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH), XL Axiata, and Smartfren—announced the launch of three Application Programming Interface (API) services: Number Verify, SIM Swap, and Device Location. These API services are aimed at enhancing security and improving customer experience. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is a unified network API framework designed to provide developers with universal access to telecom networks. This standardization will help developers accelerate the growth of digital services and applications for customers by ensuring their API systems function seamlessly with telecom networks in Indonesia and hundreds of other operators worldwide.
Telkomsel’s Director of Planning and Transformation, Soon Nam, said, "This joint effort aligns with Telkomsel's spirit, which is inspired by Indonesia's drive to create breakthroughs together through innovation and the use of the latest, ever-evolving technologies to support the growth of Indonesia's digital economy and the advancement of a technology-based economy. This initiative between Indonesian telecommunications companies aims to build interconnections between operators, driving progress in the telecommunications industry and providing added value to customers through digital platforms and services that will further propel national development. This joint initiative also marks our commitment to delivering an enhanced digital experience for customers, while fostering digital transformation across industries—one of the key factors in helping business actors become more productive, efficient, and secure."
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison’s Chief Digital Officer, Sanjeev Rawat, said, "This collaboration is a concrete example of the commitment of telecommunications operators in Indonesia to drive economic progress through the technology and digitalization sectors. It aligns with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison's spirit of collaboration in achieving the major goal of delivering a world-class digital experience, connecting and empowering the people of Indonesia."
Meanwhile, XL Axiata’s Director & Chief Enterprise Business & Corporate Affairs Officer, Yessie D. Yosetya, added, "The harmonization of Telco API is achieved through fast and agile work, supported by developer-friendly documentation. CAMARA enables standardized, easy, and seamless access by simplifying the complexity of telecommunications networks through Telco APIs, making these APIs available across multiple telecommunications networks and countries."
Smartfren Business Chief of New Business Development, Hermansyah, added, "This collaboration reflects our commitment to driving innovation to support progress and digitalization in Indonesia. The API will greatly simplify system interoperability, as individual or business customers can use a single interface to connect to multiple operators' systems across the country."
Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, said, "I am very excited to see Indonesia, one of the largest mobile markets in the world, driving digital innovation through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. This step will bring cutting-edge digital services and technologies to the market faster, while also helping app developers and the tech community in the country access new markets and offer their services to customers worldwide."
Telecom operators in Indonesia will introduce three API services. The first is Number Verify, which aims to simplify mobile number verification, ensure strong authentication, and provide a smooth user experience, addressing issues like SMS delivery failures or user technology challenges. Next is SIM Swap, which can detect recent changes to SIM cards or mobile numbers, making it crucial in preventing account takeovers, especially during financial transactions. Lastly, Device Location enables organizations to confirm the specific location of a device, improving fraud detection and accuracy for services like delivery apps, and preventing GPS manipulation and fraudulent activities.
Implementing the GSMA Open Gateway initiative is highly beneficial for developing various solutions. Through this collaboration, all operators are expected to contribute to the sustainable growth of the telecommunications industry in Indonesia, while also providing added value to society by offering faster, safer, and more accessible solutions to support digital lifestyles and the adoption of the latest technologies.
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative was launched in February 2023 by the mobile operator industry and GSMA – a global association that brings together mobile operators, technology companies, and related industries. 42 mobile operator groups worldwide, representing 237 mobile networks and 65% of global mobile connections, are now part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. This open-source framework ensures consistent and interoperable access to mobile networks through the CAMARA standard-based repository, a Linux Foundation project aimed at defining, developing, and testing APIs. This collaborative effort by Indonesian operators aims to provide additional benefits to society, foster the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem, and contribute to advancing the national digital ecosystem.