Exposing MNO APIs – Strategic rationales and key drivers

Strategic rationales for MNO asset monetization – The

revenue challenge

Strategic rationales for MNO asset monetization – The

disintermediation risk

When should telcos consider exposing APIs?

Exposing APIs: Timing matters

Behind the decision to expose APIs

The MNO response – Toward IT-centric models

MNO asset monetization – From outsourcing tower

operations to opening up customer data

Risks of monetizing APIs: Revenue cannibalization, cybercriminality

Going API: A summary review

The 20 API programs we reviewed

API programs – Program structure

API program structure – An overview

MNO API programs: Communities, support and revenue

sharing

API programs – Abandoning the long tail?

MNO API programs are gradually narrowing their focus

API programs – What should MNOs expose?

The MNO API portfolio – Available API assets

Messaging, billing and location are the most widely exposed

assets

The MNO API portfolio – What are operators monetizing?

API programs – Breaking down the revenue model

From wholesale to retail, three main business models

Business models: Wholesale

Business models: Wholesale with aggregators

Business models: Retail

API monetization – Free with revenue sharing

The evolving revenue model – The application is the

product

API best practice summary

The impact of API monetization on operational structure

The move to monetize assets is strategic

A new cultural mindset

Looking for the optimal organizational structure

Adjusting organizational structure to serve the developer

market

The MNO API revenue opportunity

Revenue benefits will be mostly indirect

API programs – Case studies

Telefónica BlueVia: A pioneer in open APIs

Telefónica BlueVia’s value proposition for developers

Telefónica BlueVia roadmap – From app design to experience

sharing

The BlueVia API approach: A large portfolio of open APIs

Telefónica’s revenue sharing proposition for developers

BlueVia: Outcomes and lessons

Dialog Axiata in Sri Lanka: Ideamart

The Ideamart API portfolio

Ideamart APIs – Revenue and cost model

Ideamart’s impact

Orange Partner program – Structure

Overview of Orange Partner program

Orange Partner program – A wide range of APIs

AT&T Developer Program

The AT&T API portfolio

AT&T Developer APIs – Revenue and cost model

Sample advertising API features of AT&T, AdMob, Millennial

and iAD

AT&T Developer Program – Impact

Globe Telecom API program

The Globe API portfolio: From SMS to location

Globe Labs APIs – Revenue and cost model

Globe Labs challenges

Globe Labs – Impact

Smart Communications API program

Smart API scope – SMS, charging and location

Smart DevNet – Impact

Key findings and recommendations

Key findings

Recommendations

Appendix – Acronyms and definitions

Acronyms and definitions

About Pyramid Research

Meet us in person

MNOs are gradually moving from telecom-centric to IT-centric operating models: The change is dramatic. Operators are increasingly narrowing the scope of their API programs, shifting toward more partnerships targeting specific vertical ecosystems and focusing on B2B. Beyond the primary APIs opened by MNOs – messaging, location and billing – operators, in particular those in emerging markets, have remained relatively conservative about opening APIs. The revenue impact of operator API programs is moderate at best. Operators recognize that the application, not the API, is the end product. Ultimately the efforts to monetize APIs are about more than building up alternative revenue streams as traditional ones dry up. They are central to broader efforts to accelerate the pace of innovation within the organization.

 

Scope

The Report ‘Telecom APIs – Monetizing Their Most Valuable Assets Is Transforming Mobile Operators’ by Pyramid Research examines one of the more striking manifestations of the ongoing transformation of telecom operators – their growing willingness to monetize tightly held assets such as networks, billing systems and user relationships, and to expose APIs to third-party developers. Building on our examination of a dozen operators around the world, the report analyzes the strategic drivers and structures of MNO asset monetization programs, along with their impact on the operations and bottom lines of operators. The report also provides a number of case studies of API programs from around the world.

 

What else does this report offer

 

A clear analysis of the strategic rationale and key drivers behind the trend of exposing APIs.

 

Key operator business models and tactical approaches to monetizing their API assets.

 

Detailed investigations into six operator API programs, laid out in detailed case studies.

 

Crucial market insights based on the analysis of the API programs of 20 key mobile operators globally.

 

Forty exhibits helping to make sense of the different approaches to asset monetization.

 

Actionable recommendations for mobile network operators.

 

Reasons to buy

Learn best practices from the experience of operators that have launched API programs – successfully or not.

 

Put some tangible numbers on the revenue potential of opening APIs for your organization.

 

Assess the various revenue models available when exposing APIs.

 

Understand the deeper strategic and day-to-day implications of exposing APIs on your organization.

 

Get the external and internal parameters you need to decide whether your organization should expose APIs.

 

Get a clear view of the broad KPIs you need in order to assess whether your API program is successful.

 

Companies mentioned

Amazon

 

Apple

 

AT&T

 

Deutsche Telekom

 

Dialog Axiata

 

Facebook

 

Globe Telecom

 

Google

 

GSMA

 

InMobi

 

Jumptap

 

Millennial Media

 

Mojiva

 

Nexmo

 

Orange

 

Plivo

 

Samsung

 

SingTel

 

Smart Communications

 

Telefónica

 

Twilio

 

Viber