Telco to Techco
How Safaricom Can Win the API Economy
The Moment of Truth for Africa’s Most Influential Telco
Safaricom is not just a telecom operator. It is Africa’s most powerful digital brand, a trailblazer in mobile money and cloud adoption, and the bedrock of Kenya’s digital economy. But in 2025, connectivity alone isn’t enough. The future belongs to telcos that transform into technology platforms—monetizing their infrastructure, exposing network capabilities via APIs, and becoming the invisible engine behind fintech, e-commerce, healthtech, and more.
Operators are already winning, Don’t wait to catch up!
A 1-on-1 discovery session designed for Leaders Like You
For Safaricom, the future isn’t just about growing the network—it’s about unleashing its full potential.
Why Now? Because the Opportunity Is Too Big to Wait
$170 billion
mobile GDP contribution in Africa by 2030
$10 billion
from 5G alone in Africa’s economy
90% of developers
expect their API usage to increase—demand is surging
Safaricom already leads the continent in innovation, scale, and trust. But to remain at the top, it must evolve into a platform that others build upon.
The Opportunity Ahead for Safaricom
With M-PESA, digital services, and market leadership, Safaricom has redefined mobile connectivity and finance across Africa. The next leap? Opening the network itself.
With hSenid’s GSMA-aligned OpenAPI Gateway, Safaricom can unlock the infrastructure it already owns and transform it into a developer-ready, monetizable platform. This proposal outlines how Safaricom can lead Kenya and the continent into the next era of telco innovation.
01
Strengthen Trust with Real-Time Fraud Prevention
By exposing SIM Swap, Roaming Status, and Number Verification APIs, Safaricom can help financial partners prevent fraud before it happens — a critical capability amid rising mobile and banking threats.
This creates a new trust layer across Africa’s fintech ecosystem and positions Safaricom as a security enabler, not just a service provider.
02
Accelerate Secure, Developer-Friendly Integration
With OAuth2, TLS, and fine-grained access controls, hSenid’s platform ensures bank-grade security while making API onboarding simple, fast, and scalable for developers.
Safaricom’s partners — from startups to banks — can integrate in days, not months.
03
Unlock New Revenue from B2B APIs
Safaricom Ethiopia can unlock new B2B revenue streams by exposing high-value network APIs through our Open Gateway. With flexible pricing models and strong developer demand, this platform enables strategic partnerships and expands Safaricom’s role in Ethiopia’s growing digital economy.
04
Continuous Innovation & Adaptability
The platform is built to evolve, supporting new technologies, shifting partner needs, and emerging use cases. This ensures Safaricom remains agile and influential in the API-driven digital economy.
05
Support Regional Growth
As Safaricom expands services like M-PESA into Africa and beyond, the hSenid OpenAPI Gateway can facilitate cross-border service orchestration, consistent API behavior, and faster rollout across new markets.
06
Faster Time-to-Market
API abstraction means faster prototyping, rapid iteration, and shorter launch cycles — from fraud checks and digital onboarding to edge services and location-aware apps.
How Telcos Excel with OpenAPI Gateway
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is driving innovation globally, with telcos leveraging standardized network APIs to solve key challenges across sectors. Here are two standout use cases:
01
Streamlining User Authentication in Europe
Orange in France and Spain implemented SIM Swap and Number Verification APIs to enhance digital ID verification. These APIs reduce reliance on SMS-based methods and improve security for digital services.
02
Strengthening Fraud Detection in South Africa
Cell C, MTN, and Telkom deployed SIM Swap and Number Verification APIs to support fraud detection and real-time identity checks. These APIs now play a critical role in securing mobile financial services across South Africa.
Why hSenid Mobile
hSenid Mobile has been rooted in the telco domain for over 25 years, with deep, hands-on experience in delivering core network solutions across global markets.
Our OpenAPI Gateway (hMS Open GW) is certified by GSMA, ensuring full compliance with the GSMA Open Gateway standards and seamless alignment with the CAMARA API framework. This certification reinforces our commitment to quality, security, and global interoperability.
Our GSMA-certified OpenAPI Gateway (hMS Open GW) is built on a modular, cloud-native architecture that simplifies API deployment, strengthens security, and accelerates integration across 4G, 5G, and legacy systems.
Beyond the platform itself, hSenid brings decades of telco-grade integration experience — supporting partners with continuous innovation, technical reliability, and the agility to evolve alongside shifting business and network priorities. This isn’t just about adopting APIs — it’s about unlocking a programmable, revenue-ready network foundation tailored for the future of telecom.
Success of GSMA Open API Gateway
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is transforming telecoms through standardized network APIs.
Key Success Stories
| Region | Use Case | Details | Impact / Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Enhancing Digital Security | In December 2023, Claro, TIM, and Vivo launched Number Verification, SIM Swap, and Device Location Verification APIs under the GSMA Open Gateway. | Strengthened fraud detection capabilities and reinforced national digital infrastructure resilience against cyber threats. |
| Europe | Streamlining User Authentication | Orange in France and Spain deployed SIM Swap and Number Verification APIs to improve user verification processes. | Reduced reliance on SMS-based authentication, lowered fraud risk, and enhanced overall digital identity security. |
| Africa | Reducing Fraud in Mobile Finance | MTN Group and Telefónica: Number Verification and SIM Swap APIs significantly reduced fraud in mobile financial services. | Improved trust in mobile financial services and helped mitigate identity theft and unauthorized transactions. |
The adoption of Open Gateway APIs is accelerating digital transformation, and Safaricom can leverage the hSenid OpenAPI Gateway to drive security, innovation, and monetization in Africa’s telecom market.
Conclusion: A Platform Built for What’s Next
hSenid OpenAPI Gateway empowers Safaricom to evolve its network into a programmable, secure, and monetizable platform—fully aligned with GSMA Open Gateway standards. With advanced developer tooling, flexible integrations, and proven architecture, it transforms APIs from isolated endpoints into strategic assets that drive innovation, agility, and revenue. The foundation is in place. The momentum is global. Book a brief conversation to discuss how Safaricom can lead the shift to programmable telco infrastructure.