OPENING 5G APIs TO APP DEVELOPERS: ERICSSON GLOBAL NETWORK PLATFORM
The Global Network Platform puts the capabilities of 5G at the fingertips of the global developer community. I am a key contributor to the development of this platform that has already secured partnerships with Zoom and Blacknut. Through Ericsson's APIs, developers will be able to access network capabilities in an open, intuitive, and programmable way.
* Due to confidentiality agreements, this page contains shortened summaries of my work
MY ROLE
I led the development of the 5G-enabled API-as-a-service platform that allows developers worldwide to improve their app experience through 5G network APIs. I worked directly with app developers from around the world, conducting live performance tests to get their feedback and writing clear technical descriptions to facilitate their use of our APIs. I collaborated closely with engineers to define technical specifications for the APIs and managed and prioritized the feature backlog. In early testing phases, I provided developer support in case of bugs and platform issues.
The platform was a smashing success at Mobile World Congress 2023, and already features exciting partners such as Zoom and Blacknut.
PRODUCT EVOLUTION
The Global Network Platform (GNP) is being jointly developed by Ericsson and Vonage (acquired by Ericsson) along with 3 service providers. In today's AI-frenzy world, large scale processes continue to require more and more network capabilities. GNP addresses this problem by exposing the advanced functionalities of 5G networks and making them easily consumable to application developers. Vonage and Ericsson already have a plethora of communication and network APIs, and their functionalities have been combined and enhanced to form GNP.
To do this, we are focusing our efforts on simplifying the development process, promoting interoperability, and fostering collaboration between operators and the developer community. Some key features of GNP are:
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Exposing Telco Capabilities: Expose advanced capabilities of mobile networks, such as quality of service, enhanced security, user authentication, and network information, through open APIs. This allows application developers to easily access and utilize these functionalities in their applications
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Monetization of 5G: By leveraging the exposed network functionalities through APIs, operators can find new ways to monetize 5G technology. This allows them to explore innovative business models and quickly deliver new services on a global scale
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Quality of Service (QoS) API: The platform includes a QoS API that enables developers to access and control the quality of service provided by the network. This can be utilized to enhance user experiences, particularly in areas like gaming, immersive communications, and productivity applications
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Unified Communications and Contact Centers – Benefitting from a stable, Global Network Platform enhanced through Ericsson's relationships with global carriers, developers can integrate Artificial Intelligence and transactional resources, enabling innovative solutions for unified communications and contact centers
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Strengthened understanding of B2B marketplace, especially when it comes to the enterprise sales funnel
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Developed user empathy for API customers and app developers through creation and feedback on SDKs and API documentation
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Learned how to foster strong relations with external stakeholders by directly interfacing with them and providing developer support
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Internalized the importance and priority of privacy and security in designing APIs for external use