Launches new BAEx Partner Programme at MWC Shanghai 2025
SINGAPORE and SHANGHAI, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bridge Alliance is accelerating API adoption in the region, welcoming new operators and ecosystems to the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx), and launching a new BAEx Partner Programme that will expedite market readiness and sharing of best practices among participating operators.
These achievements are showcased at the GSMA’s MWC Shanghai 2025 event, where BAEx is featured at the GSMA’s Open Gateway Zone. Bridge Alliance CEO Dr Ong Geok Chwee also delivered a keynote presentation at the Open Gateway Summit on BAEx and the potential of network APIs.
Dr Ong said, “We’re delighted not only to launch the BAEx Partner Programme here in Shanghai, but also to highlight the different ways that developers, enterprises, partners and operators can get involved in our rapidly expanding BAEx ecosystem, supported by the GSMA’s Open Gateway. The immense and exciting benefits of network APIs are demonstrated by BAEx, which provides a single interface with simplified universal access for regional consumption of telco APIs. Do connect with us, and experience the benefits of our streamlined technical framework and API roll-out roadmap that will power your innovation!”
Launch of BAEx Partner Programme
Established in July 2024, BAEx is an industry-led open API exchange designed to simplify enterprises’ unified integration and access to CAMARA-based APIs—across multiple markets through a standardised framework. The collaboration also aligns with global GSMA Open Gateway standards, supporting secure, operator-grade APIs that reduce fraud and improve customer experiences.
At the Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2025, 14 Bridge member operators pledged their commitment to BAEx. Malaysian operator CelcomDigi has now joined the BAEx Partner Programme, which allows all participating operators to benefit from a deeper involvement with BAEx with insights from API industry development and technical workstreams. This collaborative programme enables open exchange, fosters knowledge sharing, drives API innovation and shared progress towards API standardisation. The participants will be part of a concerted effort to ensure alignment for telco API roadmap development and synchronisation of market readiness ensuring a consistent, scalable and easy-to-consume API experience for enterprise customers and developers across the region.
CelcomDigi’s CEO, Datuk Idham Nawawi said, “This collaboration with Bridge Alliance marks a significant step in our commitment to advancing digital trust and enabling a more secure digital economy in Malaysia and across the region. By opening up secure, interoperable telco APIs, we are empowering the financial services ecosystem to deliver trusted, seamless, and smarter digital experiences. We’re pleased to be part of the BAEx Partner Programme, helping businesses scale confidently across markets with the speed, simplicity, and reliability offered by telco-grade APIs.”
Expanding Ecosystem Collaboration
BAEx continues to broaden its ecosystem collaboration by entering into a strategic partnership with leading technology solution provider Nokia. Nokia’s Advanced 5G and CAMARA APIs will be offered to enterprises over BAEx and Bridge Alliance’s APIs will be available on Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal to end customers, expanding on both parties’ market reach and joint collaboration.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Bridge Alliance as part of Nokia’s network API strategy of connecting multiple API ecosystems through its Network as Code platform and offering operators the broadest range of network exposure options with robust multi-tier API security. Nokia and Bridge Alliance share the same goal of providing developers simplified access to network functionalities and enabling new applications for enterprises,” said Shkumbin Hamiti, Vice President and Head of Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.
Enterprise Acceleration with Operators
Bridge Alliance is actively driving real-world enterprise opportunities together with its member operators in their areas of strength, such as collaborating with China Unicom to bring Chinese enterprises’ API requirements to global markets and help them deliver cross-border API-based solutions in key industry verticals. This initiative builds on the earlier partnership between Bridge Alliance, China Unicom Global, and the GSMA, which launched the Open Gateway Global Use Case Innovation Challenge in February 2025. The challenge successfully identified high-potential use cases submitted by Chinese enterprises.
As part of BAEx, China Unicom will be able to bring its customers’ API requirements in closer alignment with the regional API roadmap, which will drive the growth of China’s use cases across the region.
Visit the BAEx showcase at MWC Shanghai 2025, GSMA Pavilion Stand N2.B80, Open Gateway Zone or email baex@bridgealliance.com to find out more about how to get involved.
About Bridge Alliance
Bridge Alliance, the leading mobile alliance for premier operators and their customers in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. Our alliance today covers 35 members who serve close to 2 billion customers collectively across these regions. Our goal is to build group capabilities and create value for our members by enabling compelling roaming services and experience, offering multi-market enterprise and IoT solutions, and delivering savings and benefits through leveraging group economies.
Bridge Alliance’s members and partners include: Airtel (India, Sri Lanka and the Airtel subsidiaries in Africa: Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), AIS, China Telecom, China Unicom, CSL, CTM, Deutsche Telekom, Globe, Maxis, Metfone, MobiFone, Optus, Singtel, SK Telecom, stc (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait), SoftBank Corp., Taiwan Mobile, and Telkomsel.
For more information, visit www.bridgealliance.com.
