It’s time for collaboration, not abusive positioning, telco leaders tell MWC

Open Gateway offers APIs for network functions including Device Status, Number Verification, One-Time Password SMS and Device Location that developers can use in their mobile apps.

“I am particularly proud that two of Telefonica’s main markets, Spain and Brazil, have successfully carried out coordinated API launches in which all relevant operators in the territory have participated,” he said. Six markets around the world, including Sri Lanka, Germany, Indonesia and South Africa, have followed suit and 40 networks have commercially launched at least one API.

Networks are changing in other ways, too, he said: “Networks are based on software and then AI is applied to them, and they start thinking. Our networks are becoming proactive. They’re becoming liquid.”

However, this new vision of networks presents new challenges, he said. Currently, six companies consume more than 50% of network capacity, and in the next seven years, the volume of data will quadruple. “AI will need massive processing power, it needs the Earth (telcos) and the Cloud to collaborate. It is time for a global partnership and fair governance to deliver a sustainable and mutually beneficial value chain. It’s time for collaboration, not abusive positioning. It’s time to make responsible use of shared resources. It’s time for a new regulatory landscape. We need 21st century regulation,” Álvarez-Pallete said. 

The chairman of the main national operator also took the opportunity to celebrate Telefónica’s centenary. “We are surprisingly resilient. A company only reaches 100 years if it serves a purpose for society and permanently adapts to continue to serve. The fact that we have several century-old companies in our industry is a testament to that. Happy birthday to Telefonica. Happy new birthday to our industry,” he said. 

New policies for a new model

Another speaker, Margherita Della Valle, the Group CEO of Vodafone and also a GSMA board member, delved into the changes that technology has brought to society in the last 30 years, and the next.