Paper/Article
Telefónica strengthens businesses with network capabilities for more secure and efficient digital services
Identity verification, fraud prevention or device geolocation are some of the uses offered by the Open Gateway initiative.
Interview with Óscar Louro, Go-To-Market Director at Telefónica Open Gateway, published in Europa Press on 10 July 2025.
Telefónica offers businesses the opportunity to enhance the security of the digital services they provide to their customers by delivering new network capabilities that enable safer operations and an improved user experience.
These capabilities help companies in sectors such as banking, security, e-commerce, or any digital platform to easily verify user identities, prevent fraud, or validate device geolocation, thereby increasing security and improving the customer experience.
These use cases are made possible by Open Gateway, a global telecommunications industry initiative driven by the GSMA.
Open Gateway transforms telecommunications networks into open, interoperable and programmable platforms through internationally standardised APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This allows businesses and developers to benefit from these capabilities globally, without needing to deploy specific solutions across each mobile operator's network.
This was highlighted in an interview with Europa Press by Óscar Louro, Go-To-Market Director of Telefónica Open Gateway, who explained that Telefónica embraced Open Gateway to accelerate the transformation of telecommunications and provide its customers with all possible network capabilities in a simple way.
"We manage vast amounts of data across our networks, which hold significant value for businesses. We are simplifying secure access to this information while ensuring the privacy of our users' data at all times", he stated regarding the launch of Open Gateway.
"Businesses and developers can now access Telefónica’s network capabilities, which were previously unavailable to third parties, and easily integrate them into the digital services they offer their customers", Louro explained. As a result, end users benefit from services and applications with new functionalities that did not exist before, enhancing their experience and increasing security.
For operators, "Open Gateway is a catalyst for innovation, interoperability, and the agile development of new global digital capabilities, as it enables the discovery and co-creation of new services with customers to enrich and diversify their portfolios", he affirmed.
Telefónica’s current portfolio primarily consists of advanced network solutions powered by APIs "focused on fraud prevention and identity validation" which boost security and improve user experience, particularly in sectors like banking, insurance, and e-commerce.
"We also offer APIs that optimise network performance in specific scenarios for clients running critical applications, such as those related to security, emergency services, or healthcare”, he noted.
Additionally, he mentioned that functionalities like geolocation and population density analysis can enhance asset or personnel tracking, with "significant potential in the drone industry."
Solutions for security and fraud prevention
In the realm of security and fraud prevention, Louro highlighted several key APIs, including Number Verification and SIM Swap.
Number Verification allows applications to automatically verify that the user is using the device with the SIM associated with their phone number, validating their identity securely and without the need to receive SMS codes or enter them manually. "This significantly enhances security by preventing identity spoofing, while improving the user experience during registration or onboarding, ultimately boosting conversion rates", he explained.
SIM Swap checks whether the SIM card associated with the phone number has recently been duplicated. "There are cases where criminals manage to clone a SIM card to conduct fraudulent transactions in the customer’s name. Financial institutions can prevent fraud by checking for recent SIM duplication, adding a critical layer of security", he noted.
Telefónica Open Gateway’s portfolio also includes the Location Verification API, which validates a mobile device’s location far more securely than built-in GPS systems, which can be easily hacked.
Additionally, the Device Roaming Status API determines whether a device is in roaming mode, a key piece of information for preventing potential fraud cases. Finally, the Know Your Customer API allows businesses to cross-check customer data against Telefónica’s database.
Partnerships with TikTok and Cabify
At Mobile World Congress 2025, Telefónica showcased several Open Gateway success stories, "demonstrating how its open networks drive innovation in security solutions for users of digital services."
One standout example is the collaboration with Cabify. The company uses the Number Verification API to automate authentication when connecting to the mobile network. As a result, the registration time for new users is reduced to less than 10 seconds, and therefore, the onboarding abandonment rate also decreases, which improves the user experience right from the start.
In this way, Cabify strengthens security by minimizing fraud risks and safeguarding user data.
TikTok also uses the Number Verification API, which will be launched in Brazil in 2025, and may progressively expand to other European markets. As in the previous case, this solution allows users to register without the need for SMS codes, improving their user experience and reinforcing protection against phishing or fake accounts.
Improvements in traditional connectivity services
Telefónica also leverages its own advanced network capabilities to improve its customers' experience. As explained by Louro, Telefónica España has enhanced a range of services, primarily in connectivity, within its corporate portfolio.
There are solutions that can optimise network performance in specific circumstances for customers with critical applications, such as security, emergency or healthcare services. For example, Telefónica has deployed a 5G-backed IP-VPN service for a regional healthcare provider, integrating Open Gateway’s Quality on Demand API to ensure uninterrupted connectivity across all regional healthcare centres.
Telefónica is working with technology partners, businesses, and developers to unlock Open Gateway’s full potential.
"Much of the insights we derive from our networks can translate into valuable data for our clients. That's why we are constantly working with them to design solutions that add value to their business. These solutions are then transferred to CAMARA, the open source project of the Linux Foundation and the GSMA, where they are standardised globally", he concluded.
