GSMA Open Gateway: Italian Operators Unite to Combat Fraud and Enhance Digital Security

By Henry Calvert, Head of Networks, GSMA

Italy is making huge strides in how it’s digital transforming its society and economy, with the European Commission highlighting how it’s made remarkable progress in digital infrastructure and the rollout of digital public services. Mobile connectivity now plays essential part in how Italian’s communicate, shop, bank, maintain their health and interact with government.

However, despite the strong cyber security in place, we’re seeing cybercriminals constantly evolving their tactics, which has led to a growth in fraudulent. Online scams cost Italians €114 million in 2022, a figure that had grown to €137m by 2023. 

To stay ahead of these growing threats the Italian telecommunications industry is innovating to build a robust defence. Through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, Italy’s leading mobile operators are collaborating on a unified framework of network APIs to protect consumers and streamline digital identity.

A Unified Front for the Italian Market

The Italian market is seeing significant momentum. TIM and Wind Tre have already taken the lead by launching their first CAMARA APIs, providing developers with immediate tools to enhance security.

Other operators in Italy are also working with them with the aim to reach a cross‑market coverage.

Focus on Identity and Anti-Fraud

While the GSMA Open Gateway supports a wide range of capabilities, the immediate priority for the Italian market is Identity and Anti-Fraud APIs. By utilising real-time network data, these tools allow financial institutions and digital services to verify users with unprecedented accuracy:

• SIM Swap API: Detects if a SIM card has been recently changed, a common indicator of account takeover attempts.
• Number Verification: Provides seamless authentication without the need for vulnerable SMS-based OTPs (One-Time Passwords).
• KYC Match: Validates user-provided identity details against verified operator records to ensure data integrity and streamline the onboarding process without sharing personal data.

While the current focus remains on safeguarding the digital economy, operators are also evaluating advanced performance APIs to support future innovations in mobile gaming, remote healthcare, and augmented reality.

Why CAMARA Standards Matter

By adopting global CAMARA standards, Italian operators are removing the complexity for developers. Instead of writing unique code for each carrier, developers can "plug into" a single framework that works across the different operators. This interoperability is key to scaling 5G services and ensuring that Italian startups and enterprises can compete on a global stage.

Join the Initiative

The GSMA Open Gateway is a global movement, supported by 85 mobile operator groups, representing 300 mobile networks and over 80% of mobile connections worldwide. In Italy, the transition from individual launches to full market coverage is well underway, signalling a new era of cooperation.

Businesses, developers, and service providers interested in leveraging these network capabilities or participating in early trials are encouraged to take the next step.

Get Involved: Interested parties should reach out directly to the Italian mobile operators or contact the GSMA Open Gateway Team to learn how to integrate these APIs into their security roadmaps.

As we gather at MWC26 Barcelona, the message from Italy is clear: by opening the network, we are closing the door on fraud.