KEY POINTS
- PTCL Group signs long-term MoU with GSMA at GITEX Global 2025
- Launches CAMARA-based APIs to strengthen authentication and security
- Move aligns Pakistan’s telecom ecosystem with global digital standards
- Partnership seen as key step toward 5G, IoT, and next-gen services integration
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Group has entered into a long-term partnership with the GSM Association (GSMA) under the Open Gateway Initiative, marking a major step toward standardising digital services and API-driven innovation across Pakistan’s telecom sector.
The agreement was signed at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, expanding PTCL’s collaboration with GSMA from telecom infrastructure to cross-industry digital enablement.
The partnership centres on Application Programming Interfaces (API), or digital tools that allow software systems to communicate securely.
Under the new arrangement, PTCL Group has developed and certified two network APIs — Send OTP and Validate OTP — on the CAMARA 1.0.0 framework based on Client-Initiated Backend Authentication (CIBA).
The APIs are designed to improve user verification, minimise fraud, and enhance enterprise integration by providing secure, interoperable access to mobile network capabilities.
Group Chief Technology and Information Officer Jafar Khalid said the initiative reflects PTCL’s drive to modernise and standardise its integration ecosystem.
He added that adopting CAMARA “simplifies technology operations, enhances agility, and accelerates time-to-market while enabling deeper collaboration with developers, hyperscalers, startups, and enterprises.”
Jawad Abbassi, GSMA’s Head of MENA, said PTCL’s participation represents “a significant step forward in accelerating the digital ecosystem across Pakistan and the broader region,” adding that open network capabilities “will foster innovation, enhance interoperability, and enable next-generation digital services at scale.”
Analysts view the move as a crucial advancement toward Pakistan’s participation in global API-driven telecom innovation, paving the way for seamless integration of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and enterprise-grade digital solutions.
By aligning with international standards, PTCL Group is positioning itself as a regional leader in telecom-enabled digital transformation.
