Accelerating Telecom Networks into the Future: Harnessing the Power of CAMARA APIs
From the era of Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) to the advent of highly programmable 5G networks, the telecommunications industry has undergone a significant transformation. Gone are the days when we relied on manual connections and operator-assisted trunk calls. Today, Telco networks have evolved into sophisticated systems with a range of Open APIs that enable the creation, management, and orchestration of network services. With each new generation of internet technology, these networks become smarter and more digitally-centered.
During this transitional phase, CAMARA emerges as a fresh player in the realm of programmable APIs. Launched in February 2022, CAMARA is an open-source project initiated by the Linux Foundation and the GSMA. The project's primary objective is to establish a collection of open and standardized APIs that empower developers to access and control camera functionalities on mobile devices. While its main focus lies in northbound APIs, CAMARA also provides an abstraction of Network to Service APIs, fostering an enhanced level of connectivity and interaction.
At its essence, CAMARA leverages APIs to provide telco network capabilities, delivering substantial benefits to end customers of network service providers or any business's customers. Furthermore, by harnessing the power of APIs, CAMARA streamlines the complexity associated with telco networks, enabling effortless access across diverse networks and countries. This seamless accessibility ensures customers enjoy a streamlined and convenient experience, free from unnecessary complications.
CAMARA for 5G Monetization
Camera APIs are important for monetizing 5G because they allow developers to access the camera on a device and use it to create new and innovative applications. For example, developers can use camera APIs to create augmented reality (AR) applications, virtual reality (VR) applications, and video streaming applications. These applications can be used to generate revenue through advertising, subscription fees, or in-app purchases.
In addition, camera APIs can be used to collect data about users and their environment. This data can be used to improve the user experience, target advertising, or develop new products and services. For example, camera APIs can be used to track the user's eye movements to improve the accuracy of AR and VR applications. They can also be used to collect data about the user's surroundings to improve the accuracy of navigation applications.
In a nutshell, camera APIs are an important tool for developers who want to create new and innovative applications that can be used to monetize 5G.
Within the CAMARA framework, there exist 11 distinct APIs that partners and adopters can utilize to address various use cases. Among these APIs, Quality on Demand has emerged as the most widely deployed in both production environments and proof of concept demonstrations by numerous operators.
Some of the recent use cases and API utilization as per CAMARA websites are
| CAMARA Partners | Use Cases | API users | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| apoQlar + Microsoft + Telefonica | Remote surgery with XR | QoD | |
| AT&T + Microsoft | Remote maintenance | QoD | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yiEhdvPX8U |
| AWS + CINFO + Telefonica | Video Production | QoD | |
| Axiata | Concert experience | Carrier Billing Check Out, Authentication and Location Verification | https://youtu.be/1sTrFg0nwFs |
| Bank Daycoval + Telefonica | Fintech | Device Location | https://youtu.be/eJniN7XiY6g |
| Blacknut + Ericsson/Vonage + Orange + Telefonica + Vodafone | Cloud Gaming | QoD | |
| BMW + Deutsche Telekom + Valeo | Automated Valet Parking | QoD | https://youtu.be/WBmGQoeH2RE |
| Deutsche Telekom + Matsuko+ Orange | Holographic video telephony | QoD, Edge Cloud | https://youtu.be/mBLXaK6OEic |
| Deutsche Telekom + Microsoft + Siemens + T-Mobile US | Remote maintenance | QoD | |
| Ericsson/Vonage + Orange + Telefonica + Vodafone + ZOOM | Online training | QoD | |
| Ericsson/Vonage + Telefonica | HD Video calls | QoD | |
| Kanto + Telefonica | Carrier Billing | Carrier Billing Check Out | |
| Movistar Smart WiFi + Telefonica | Uninterrupted online gaming | QoD Home Devices | https://youtu.be/7JZvSzjPuhg |
| Vodafone | Fraud prevention | Device Status | https://camaraproject.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2023/03/Vodafone-MWC-Device-Status-API-Final.pdf |
In addition to the aforementioned solution providers, SpryFox Networks and NearBy Computing are actively contributing their flagship solutions to drive further innovations through the utilization of CAMARA APIs. SpryFox Networks successfully leveraged their QP-NEF solution on Azure to create and validate applications utilizing the Quality On Demand service APIs. On the other hand, NearBy Computing utilized CAMARA APIs to develop the initial reference implementation of their E-W platform federation interface.
ACL Digital is a one of the participants in the CAMARA project, looking forward to being engaged in contributing to the research and development (R&D) endeavors for future proof-of-concepts (PoCs).