The future isn’t waiting for fibre!
Cities don’t just need speed. They need intelligence.
As governments across the Middle East double down on smart mobility, digital services, and connected infrastructure, the backbone isn’t hardware; it’s network intelligence. That’s why 5G is more than just faster internet. It’s a foundational shift in how cities think, respond, and grow.
And one operator is already putting that vision to work.
Ooredoo leads MENA with GSMA Camara open network APIs
In January 2025, Ooredoo became the first operator in the MENA region to roll out GSMA’s Camara open network APIs, a powerful framework that lets developers plug directly into the operator’s network features. Think silent authentication, SIM-swap detection, number verification, and edge computing — all now exposed through APIs.
This isn’t just technical plumbing. It’s a strategic upgrade that brings telecom infrastructure into the hands of developers, public services, and smart city builders.
Ooredoo has already piloted these APIs in the Maldives and is now expanding them across Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine, and Iraq. Camara is part of GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative, which unifies access to core telecom network functions. Over 53 operator groups globally (covering 67% of mobile connections) have signed up by mid2024, including regional operators like du, e&, Omantel, STC and Zain.
“The implementation of GSMA Camara APIs is a major milestone for Ooredoo, reaffirming our commitment to developing a vibrant digital ecosystem where operators and developers collaborate to deliver meaningful digital experiences…”
That’s how Ooredoo’s Group CTO, Timos Tsokanis, described the rollout, and he’s right. This isn’t just another 5G upgrade. It’s a shift in who gets to build on the network. By exposing telecom capabilities through developer-friendly APIs, Ooredoo is turning its infrastructure into a toolkit for governments, start-ups, and smart city engineers across MENA.
Why this matters for smart cities
Let’s cut to it: smart cities need real-time data. They need systems that can respond instantly to congestion, power demand, water leaks, and emergencies.
Camara APIs make that possible by enabling:
- Silent authentication for frictionless digital public services
- SIM-swap alerts to prevent mobile banking fraud
- Edge computing to process surveillance or traffic data instantly, locally
- Quality-on-demand for applications like remote healthcare or drone logistics
This means public-sector developers can now plug directly into the network’s capabilities — without needing to build everything from scratch.
MENA is getting serious about 5G and IoT
According to GSMA, MENA will see 5G adoption rise to 50% of all mobile connections by 2030, and licensed cellular IoT connections will jump from 48 million in 2023 to 78 million by 2030.
That growth isn’t just in consumer data usage. It’s powering connected traffic lights, AI-powered CCTV, smart water grids, and building automation systems.
Ooredoo’s GSMA Camara adoption shows that telcos are ready to move beyond bandwidth and become enablers of digital urban infrastructure.
Building the developer layer for urban innovation
Camara APIs represent a quiet revolution: they democratise access to telco infrastructure. In the past, mobile operators were gatekeepers. Now, they’re platform providers.
This gives start-ups, government agencies, and infrastructure players in MENA new tools to build:
- More secure and seamless public apps
- Smarter energy and traffic systems
- Safer, fraud-resistant mobile banking
- Scalable logistics platforms powered by edge computing
It’s not just about connectivity anymore. It’s about capability.
See it in action at Date with Tech
Ooredoo’s leap is a sign of where MENA is headed — fast, decentralised, and built on smart, open infrastructure. If you want to see how telecom, government, and urban design are converging in real time, join us at Date with Tech.
We’ll be in Dubai this November and Riyadh this December, spotlighting the tech powering tomorrow’s cities: 5G, IoT, AI, cloud, and beyond.
