The UK’s mobile operators unveiled a new set of CAMARA-standard network APIs aimed at tackling digital fraud and enforcing age verification as part of the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative.

The GSMA CAMARA APIs standardise access to mobile network capabilities, giving developers secure tools to build safe and compliant digital services. BT and EE, CK Hutchison Group Telecom, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone Group launched the Age Verify and KYC Tenure APIs, offering developers secure access to mobile network data to support identity checks and regulatory compliance. A more advanced KYC Match API to cross-check customer information is also due to rollout by the end of the year.

Speaking at global API conference API Days held in London this week, operators positioned the new offerings as key tools in the fight against fraud, which cost UK consumers £11.4 billion last year. The APIs allow platforms to confirm user age and phone number history without sharing personal data, reducing friction while meeting legal requirements.

The move comes weeks after the UK’s controversial Online Safety Act came into force, ordering age verification for user-generated content across digital platforms. According to the Age Verification Providers Association, five million additional age checks are now taking place daily.

Henry Calvert, head of networks at the GSMA, noted that age assurance is just one application of mobile networks’ capabilities. “By giving developers easier, secure access to the rich network functionality of mobile networks, we can also use network intelligence in the fight against fraud and scams,” he said.

Looking ahead, the operators plan to expand their network API offerings in 2026 with a focus on identity, fraud protection and enhanced network performance using 5G infrastructure. The GSMA stated the Open Gateway programme now includes 79 operator groups representing nearly 80 per cent of global mobile connections.