from the likes of global communications collective Aduna, network APIs act as a bridge between the programmable capabilities of a 5G network, such as differentiated connectivity, location, security, authentication, and network insights, and the applications that rely on them. By exposing 5G APIs, CSPs can enable third parties to access and leverage the unique features of the 5G SA network to offer guaranteed premium connectivity for things like low latency or massive device applications. 

A practical enterprise use case highlighting the power of network APIs is the collaboration between Australian bank Westpac, Optus and Vonage. In an effort to combat bank impersonation scams and enhance customer experience, Optus and Westpac launched a revolutionary in-app calling feature, SafeCall. Westpac leveraged Vonage’s Communications Platform and network APIs to ensure higher reliability for time-critical communications, such as customer fraud alerts and emergency banking notifications. 

More broadly, Optus has made use of its partnership with Vonage and its network APIs to deliver API Connect, a platform designed to meet a growing demand for secure, scalable platforms that can be deployed more efficiently. The service enables enterprise customers to embed premium real-time communications services directly into their applications via network APIs.     

As these examples show, network APIs allow third-party applications to request specific, premium functions of the network, for which the user, the organisation providing the application, or the app developer will pay for. In this way, CSPs have the opportunity to increase the profitability of their 5G infrastructure while also providing enhanced services to customers and consumers. 

Bringing greater efficiency to networks with 5G Standalone    

The ability to provide dynamic, customised services to customers — both businesses and consumers — with 5G SA, autonomous networks, and associated technologies such as network APIs at a premium is only one way CSPs can drive new revenue and bolster profit from differentiated connectivity. 5G SA offers streamlined architecture and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) features for greater energy efficiency, meaning CSPs can boost the performance of their networks without a similar boost in their energy consumption. 

Unlike 5G non-standalone networks, 5G SA infrastructure is based exclusively on cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Radio architecture. This decouples the software powering the network from the underlying hardware, making it easier for CSPs to develop and expose new network capabilities without needing to ramp up their network energy requirements. It also means CSPs can upgrade, create, and deploy new services in hours rather than days or weeks, reducing the resources traditionally needed for such activities. 

Additionally, 5G SA even has the power to reduce energy consumption among customers. Optus, for instance, has deployed RedCap — or Reduced Capability — which is part of the international 5G standard and enables a streamlined version of 5G designed for devices that don’t need the full power and complexity of standard 5G. In essence, RedCap reduces device connectivity complexity and lowers battery consumption while supporting latency-critical features for 5G.   

In these ways, among others, differentiated connectivity marks a telecommunications evolution that is a catalyst for industry transformation. It shifts the focus from general access to tailored performance and from volume-based pricing to value-based service delivery. It also positions CSPs as active participants in digital transformation, not just infrastructure providers. 

This transformation is made possible by 5G SA, autonomous networks, and the software designed to control this infrastructure. Its architecture supports the slicing and programmability needed to deliver consistent quality across varied applications and environments. With 5G SA, we can shape a future where networks deliver exactly what is needed, when and where it is needed most.