Introduction to APIs in Telecommunications

Explore the fundamentals of APIs and their transformative role in modern telecommunications. Designed for professionals in tech and telecom, this course begins by demystifying what APIs are and how they work, before turning to the principles behind RESTful architecture and OAuth 2.0 security. Instructor Rahul Kaundal covers how APIs are powering the software-defined transformation of networks, bridging the gap between legacy 4G IoT services and 5G Core. Along the way, discover the essentials of 5G service-based architecture and how its native API-driven design enables new business models. By the end of this course, you’ll also be apprised of industry-leading initiatives such as GSMA Open Gateway and the CAMARA project, which are turning telecom networks into programmable platforms for innovation.

Learning objectives
Define what an API is and explain its fundamental purpose and value in modern software and telecom systems.
Describe the technical workflow of an API, including the roles of requests, responses, and endpoints.
Identify the core technologies powering APIs, including the principles of RESTful architecture and the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework.
Explain the transformative role of APIs in network programmability, specifically in software-defined networking (SDN).
Compare the 4G and 5G core network architectures, highlighting the shift to a service-based architecture (SBA) in 5G.
Illustrate how APIs are used to expose network capabilities, such as IoT services via the SCEF in 4G and 5G functions.
Analyze the strategic impact of APIs in initiatives like network as a service (NaaS), the GSMA Open Gateway, and the CAMARA project.
Evaluate real-world use cases for 5G APIs, such as enabling dynamic Quality on Demand (QoD).
Assess the primary security threats and challenges associated with APIs and the role of API gateways in mitigating them.