Understanding the Unique Role of APIs in 5G and Telco Cloud Architectures

In the era of 5G and telco cloud, few technologies have the potential to unlock as much value as application programming interfaces (APIs).

We’ve previously discussed how APIs can help telcos solve the agility challenge by allowing them to innovate at speed and scale. In this blog, we’ll explore the essential role that APIs will play in the future of 5G and telco cloud architectures.

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What are APIs and why do they matter to telco?

APIs are sets of protocols, routines, and tools that define how software components should interact. By providing a standardized interface, APIs allow applications and network services to seamlessly communicate and share data with one another, regardless of their underlying hardware or software.

APIs can therefore bring major benefits in terms of efficiency, agility, and operability. But they’re also crucial for opening up new revenue streams and enabling innovation — especially when it comes to 5G and telco cloud.

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How APIs will impact 5G

Telcos have largely struggled to monetize 5G. But APIs could change this by unlocking hundreds of new use cases, from improved videoconferencing to semi-autonomous vehicles and augmented gaming. In fact, McKinsey estimates that the network API market could deliver between $100-300 billion in revenue for operators by 2030.

APIs are the missing piece of the puzzle for realizing the full potential of 5G by enabling a 5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA), bringing unprecedented speed and connectivity to customers.

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How APIs will impact telco cloud

APIs are crucial to the deployment of cloud-native telco architectures, as they enable the seamless virtualization and deployment of network functions across cloud environments.

A single telco cloud stack includes a range of different technologies, from bare metal hardware to virtual machines, containers, monitoring systems, orchestration platforms and DevOps tools like CI/CD and GitOps. Each of these layers needs to communicate with one another, and APIs will be essential for this.

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Key API use cases within 5G and telco cloud

APIs act as the cornerstones of a programmable 5G network, and the building blocks behind efficient telco cloud ecosystems. And they do this by doing two things: enabling network programmability, and enabling service orchestration.

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How APIs enable network programmability

By allowing different applications to “speak” to one another, APIs enable telcos to control the infrastructure of their networks purely through software / code. This heightened level of programmability means that developers can make rapid changes to their networks through simple instructions rather than heavy, manual overhauls. It’s a much better and automated way of managing networks, so that updates can be rolled out to end-users at unprecedented speeds.

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How APIs enable service orchestration

Adding an API orchestration layer will help you manage your network as its number of APIs grows. This essentially allows you to manage each and every API via a single API, therefore bringing all your disparate applications and services into a single, streamlined system. By gluing everything together, APIs enable you to create new services and manage existing ones with comparative ease.

Plus, as telco networks become more advanced with AI capabilities, APIs will enable you to monitor and adjust network resources in real-time — therefore ensuring the highest quality of service to customers.

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Common types of APIs in telco

The number of APIs in the world is continuing to grow exponentially, with an estimated 200 million public and private APIs in use even back in 2021. The best way to categorize these APIs is by protocol / architecture (i.e. the rules that dictate how an API works), of which there are three you need to know…

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REST APIs

The representational state transfer (REST) architecture is probably the most popular approach at present. REST APIs can turn server-side data into simple formats like JSON and XML, and as such, they’re a fairly flexible / scalable solution.

• Main pro: Its client/server approach. By separating the front and back end (i.e. the client and the server), the API can continue to maintain its flexibility even as the surrounding system grows in complexity. REST APIs are also stateless and cache-friendly.
• Main con: Its lack of standardization. The absence of a designated structure can cause unnecessary confusion when it comes to implementation.

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SOAP APIs

The simple object access protocol (SOAP) is also extremely common, and tends to see APIs formatted as XML files. In comparison to REST, it’s much more standardized and clearly defined.

• Main pro: Its agnostic approach. SOAP can handle any programming language or processing platform, meaning it should always be able to execute a request.
• Main con: Its requirements. The standardized nature of SOAP means every message must be highly structured, which can take a large amount of time.

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GraphQL

GraphQL started its life as an internal Facebook protocol, but it has since become a popular API type for JSON. In essence, it’s a query language that allows you to create and execute highly specific requests.

• Main pro: Its performance. GraphQL’s ability to return precise and detailed results makes it a comparatively high-functioning API architecture.
• Main con: Its complexity. The powerful nature of GraphQL means it requires a lot of training in order to implement it effectively.

For more information, we’d recommend reading Red Hat’s in-depth guide to REST, SOAP and GraphQL (as well as gRPC). 

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What about API integration patterns?

In order to successfully implement APIs within your network, you need to think about integration patterns. Put simply, integration patterns determine how systems / applications communicate with each other. Different systems may require different patterns, so here are some of the more common ones to know about:

• API Gateway: A centralized entry point managing all API communications. Secure by design.
• Bus Architecture: A shared communication bus. Enables publish / subscribe mechanisms.
• Chain of Responsibility: Requests are processed sequentially by a chain of handlers. Decouples request senders from receivers.
• Enterprise Service Bus (ESB): A more advanced Bus Architecture with additional services. Highly powerful.
• Hub & Spoke: A central hub that facilitates communication between surrounding systems. Centralizes management.
• Microservices Architecture: Each function is separate, with its own API. A decentralized approach for faster deployments.
• Point-to-Point (P2P): Direct connections between two systems. Simple and straightforward.

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Learn more about APIs and telco with LabLabee

If you want to upskill your development team and learn everything you need to know about the role of APIs in 5G and telco cloud, LabLabee’s hands-on training labs provide the practical experience and in-depth knowledge needed. Our ‘Understanding and Utilizing APIs’ lab offers an immersive experience for exploring the foundational principles of API development, with a blend of theoretical explanations and practical exercises.

Whether you’re looking to modernize legacy systems or explore new revenue streams, we’ll give you the hands-on experience to confidently integrate APIs into your strategy. Explore our full catalog of hands-on training labs, skill tests, and learning paths.