Open Gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

Open Gateway is a global Telco initiative, led by the GSMA, that aims to transform telecommunications networks into programmable platforms to deliver network capabilities to the world.

The term API stands for Application Programming Interfaces. It is a mechanism or line of code that allows two software components to communicate quickly and with less hassle. In the case of Telco APIs, they allow digital applications and services to interact with the network in a simple and agile way.

The standardization of APIs allows service developers to only have to make a single development that is compatible with the networks of all telcos. This means that the integration of the capabilities offered by the API is always done in the same way, regardless of the operator used by the user.

With network programming, we can offer developers the advanced capabilities they demand in real time. This will make it possible to accelerate innovation and the creation of new network services, as well as to enrich and develop new experiences in different sectors.

It is an open source project led by the Linux Foundation in collaboration with the GSMA that establishes the framework under which any Telco's Open Gateway APIs are standardised.

This project opens up a new world of innovation, technology and experiences:  

  • Companies: they will have new business opportunities in an increasingly saturated market that needs differential solutions adapted to the needs of the digital world.
  • Developers: will have a new way to enrich or create digital applications and services which are more agile, simpler and with advanced capabilities.
  • Users: will have new digital services and an improved user experience in applications.    

  

Like the other Telcos, we are developing our own network APIs and standardising them under the CAMARA framework. We are also programming them to be automated, communicate with our networks in real time and on demand, and be easy to integrate, with a single line of code.    

Telefónica Kernel is our platform based on APIs and data that enables digital services in all the countries where we operate. Kernel's main pillars are security, privacy and user control of data. At Telefónica we have been making progress in our internal transformation for a long time, and this now allows us to open up our capabilities with Open Gateway faster and on solid values.

To make these APIs available to companies and developers, Telefónica has enabled two programmes on its website:  

  • Telefónica Open Gateway Developer Hub is a portal for testing our APIs, prototyping use cases and testing new services to make the most of the network's capabilities in applications.
  • Telefónica Open Gateway Partner Program is a program focused on growing business revenue through collaboration with the Telefónica Open Gateway team. It enables the development of new services or the improvement of existing solutions aimed at end-customers, either in the business-to-business (B2B) or B2B2C market. It also provides access to exclusive resources, specialised tools and customised content to implement APIs and drive your business forward. Similarly, the programme provides assistance from a team of Telefónica Open Gateway professionals, with comprehensive technical and business support throughout the process of integration and commercialisation of API-based solutions. It also provides technical and commercial training to ensure that the company is ready to offer these services to its customers. Finally, it provides access to a set of technical tools that allow you to explore APIs and create proof of concepts (POCs).  

Telefónica Open Gateway Partner Program is a programme focused on growing business revenue through collaboration with the Telefónica Open Gateway team. It enables the development of new services or the improvement of existing solutions aimed at end-customers, either in the business-to-business (B2B) or B2B2C market. It also provides access to exclusive resources, specialised tools and customised content to implement APIs and drive your business forward.

Similarly, the programme provides assistance from a team of Telefónica Open Gateway professionals, with comprehensive technical and business support throughout the process of integration and commercialisation of API-based solutions. It also provides technical and commercial training to ensure that the company is ready to offer these services to its customers. Finally, it provides access to a set of technical tools that allow you to explore APIs and create proof of concepts (POCs).  

The Developer Hub is a portal for developers where you can experiment with Telefónica's APIs, create use cases and test new services taking advantage of Telefónica's network functionalities.

On the other hand, the Partner Program, in addition to what is offered in the Developer hub, includes the possibility of becoming a Telefónica Open Gateway partner, and once accepted, being able to redistribute network APIs to its customers, include them in consultancy projects or integrate them into its digital products. In addition, the programme offers you access to exclusive training, content and tools to help you accelerate your business, and the backing of a team of professionals who provide technical and business support at all times.  

Becoming a Telefónica Open Gateway partner offers a number of advantages including increased revenue by collaborating in the development of services for business customers (B2B / B2B2C); access to exclusive resources to implement APIs; comprehensive support during integration and commercialisation; technical and commercial training for your sales team; and access to technical tools, such as the Sandbox and documentation to generate proof of concept (POC). These advantages support the growth of your business and the offering of services based on Telefónica Open Gateway APIs.  

The Sandbox allows for testing and refining use cases in enterprise solutions before they are released to the market or deployed to customers, ensuring a successful implementation.

Partners are provided with customised marketing resources including sales training, webinars, industry materials and video tutorials. These resources are designed to accelerate sales pipeline development and provide effective tools to achieve business goals.

As a Telefónica Open Gateway partner, it is possible to offer consultancy, integration and development services for third parties, as well as to improve our own solutions for end customers (B2B / B2B2C). This ranges from advice and consultancy, implementation of complex IT solutions, development of proprietary solutions and the inclusion of APIs in marketplaces or vertical offerings. It also allows APIs to be integrated into technology products and solutions provided to third parties, either as a technology company or as a service provider (B2B2C).

APIs are designed to provide flexibility and allow for some customisation, allowing you to tailor solutions to the use cases required by your customer base by offering them added value.

The network APIs available to partners are a distinctive feature of Telefónica Open Gateway. These APIs are standard, meaning that they follow global standards and protocols, facilitating their use and adoption in various applications and solutions. In addition, these APIs are designed to be global, allowing partners to leverage the full potential of Telefónica's network on an international scale. They are intuitive and easy to integrate, streamlining the development process and allowing partners to focus on creating innovative solutions rather than dealing with complex technical challenges.

Partners have access to the programme's contractual framework, which facilitates the management of agreements and contracts with the commercial units of Telefónica's local operators.

Pricing and licensing agreements may vary depending on the type of solution and volume of use, as well as the commercial unit of the Telefónica operator with which an agreement is reached, or the Telefónica Open Gateway Partner with which you are working.

Yes, registration in the Partner Program is completely free of charge. It is possible to register free of charge and access a wide range of resources and development tools, as well as business areas, to help companies boost their sales by integrating Telefónica Open Gateway APIs.

The partner program is global and available internationally. It is not limited to specific regions, which means that it can be used by partners all over the world. However, the applicability of the APIs is limited to territories where Telefónica has network services (currently Brazil, Germany and Spain).

Data security and compliance are a priority in the Partner Program. From the moment of registration, robust security measures are in place to protect confidential information. Data compliance is managed in accordance with relevant regulations and standards, ensuring that data is handled securely and complies with all applicable regulations. It is a programme committed to ensuring data integrity and security at all times.

Telefónica Open Gateway Developer Hub is a portal for testing our APIs, prototyping use cases and testing new services to make the most of the network's capabilities in applications.

The Developer Hub is a portal for developers where you can experiment with Telefónica's APIs, create use cases and test new services taking advantage of Telefónica's network functionalities.

On the other hand, the Partner Program, in addition to what is offered in the Developer hub, includes the possibility of becoming a Telefónica Open Gateway partner, and once accepted, being able to redistribute network APIs to its customers, include them in consultancy projects or integrate them into its digital products. In addition, the programme offers you access to exclusive training, content and tools to help you accelerate your business, and the backing of a team of professionals who provide technical and business support at all times.  

You do not need to be an experienced developer to join the Developer Hub. The programme is open to developers of all levels, from beginners to experts. It aims to provide resources and support to assist experience creators in their development, regardless of their level of experience.  

Joining the Developer Hub provides access to a Sandbox, code samples, complete open source applications and detailed user guides. These tools allow you to start working with our APIs effectively.

At Telefónica Open Gateway, we offer different integration models so that developers can incorporate Telefónica Open Gateway APIs into their applications or commercial solutions:  

  • One such model involves developers using the APIs through an Open Gateway partner, such as cloud service providers or CPaaS communications service aggregators.
  • Another option is for developers to become partners and integrate directly with the operator, which provides flexibility in the use of APIs in commercial applications and offers a variety of collaboration options to suit the needs of each developer.  

Yes, use cases can be tested and validated in the Sandbox. This allows you to evaluate and ensure that developments work as expected before deploying them in a production environment.  

The Developer Hub offers a wide range of technical documentation, including whitepapers, datasheets and other detailed resources. It also provides guides, tutorials and examples of use to facilitate the implementation of the APIs in different projects. This documentation is designed to help developers of all levels to use the APIs effectively.  

All languages are supported. However, it is currently only available in Python. We are working on expanding the list.  

From the developers' laboratory, manuals and guides are offered to facilitate the execution of different processes. In case of more complex technical problems, it is possible to contact an expert to solve the different questions that may arise.  

Pricing and licensing agreements may vary depending on the type of solution and volume of use, as well as the commercial unit of the Telefónica operator with which an agreement is reached, or the Telefónica Open Gateway Partner with which you are working.  

Yes, registration to the Developer Hub is completely free of charge. It is possible to join free of charge and access a wide range of resources and tools for developers.  

The Developer Hub is available globally, there are no geographical restrictions to join. However, the applicability of the APIs is limited to territories where Telefónica has network services (currently Brazil, Germany and Spain).

Open Gateway uses authentication based on standard OAuth 2.0 access tokens, which must be included in HTTP requests to authenticate and authorise actions.

The security of members' data and projects is a priority. Security measures are implemented to protect user and project information. This includes data encryption and controlled access to the platform to ensure confidentiality and data integrity.

The Telefónica Open Gateway Sandbox is a testing and development environment designed to facilitate the creation and integration of applications and services. It provides access to APIs and tools that allow developers to experiment with resources such as connectivity, data and cloud services. It aims to accelerate innovation and collaboration with third parties through a secure and controlled space. It also encourages the creation of customised solutions that leverage Telefónica's network capabilities.  

The Sandbox can be accessed by registering in the Developer Hub or Partner Program of Telefónica Open Gateway. The SDK is currently available in Python, with plans to extend to other languages in the future.

The credentials of the private area of the Telefónica Open Gateway website also provide access to the Sandbox. In some cases, you may be required to provide additional information about yourself or your company.  

Logs and monitoring are managed through the Sandbox console, where you can view details about requests made, responses received and other important events. This helps to debug and improve integrations with Telefónica Open Gateway APIs.  

You can request technical assistance from our team of experts through the contact mailbox.  

The use of the Sandbox is included as part of the Developer Hub or Partner Program benefits, so there are no additional costs for registered members.  

The Telefónica Open Gateway Sandbox is isolated and controlled by Telefónica, which guarantees a secure environment for developing and testing applications. In addition, OAuth 2.0 authentication is required to access APIs, which protects applications and data.  

In the Sandbox, data is simulated and no real user data is used. This ensures that testing is safe and does not affect end-users. 

An SDK (Software Development Kit) is a set of development tools that allows developers to create applications for a specific environment. The Telefónica Open Gateway Sandbox includes tools and libraries that facilitate the integration and use of Telefónica APIs in applications.  

A Mock Operator is a simulated version of a real operator, designed to reproduce the functions and responses of a network operator without using real data. In the Telefónica Open Gateway Sandbox , applications can be tested against this mock operator to ensure the functionality and efficiency of integrations in a controlled and secure environment.  

The main use cases of the Sandbox Mock include:  

  • Test integrations with Telefónica Open Gateway APIs without affecting real users. 
  • Develop and debug applications in a secure environment before deploying them in production. 
  • Evaluate the added value of Telefónica's APIs in different business contexts.  

Yes, the Sandbox Mock may have limitations in terms of the number of requests allowed, the functionalities available compared to a real production environment and the exact replication of a real operator's behaviour in all its aspects.  

Yes, the Sandbox Mock allows you to simulate network errors and failures to test how applications handle adverse situations and improve their performance.  

In the case of the Sandbox, the applications do not have to be finalised or complete, as it is a test environment in which to test the consumption of Telefónica Open Gateway APIs at no cost. These offer access to real network functions with own lines or with simulated data, for as long as needed to validate the use case.

Once completed, Telefónica Open Gateway services can be contracted through the Partner Program and put to productive use, putting all the capabilities of the network at the service of users.  

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