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More with Less


How Telcos Are Rewriting Growth with Developers

Telecom companies are no longer debating artificial intelligence. They are deploying it. However, even in 2025, many projects are stalling, internal teams are maxed out, and scaling innovation continues to be a challenge. The pressure to deliver faster and smarter is reshaping how telecom operators approach growth. It is no longer about building everything in-house. Instead, the industry is leaning into plug-and-play solutions, automation, and strategic partnerships with developers. This shift is not isolated. It is happening across the board as telecom companies reimagine what it means to scale.


At the heart of this evolution is a new mindset:

  • More with Less

  • More innovation

  • Less heavy lifting

  • More revenue

  • Less engineering debt

Platforms like AppTechCo are enabling this transformation by helping telecom operators accelerate progress without overextending their teams.


From Network to Platform

Telecom companies are no longer just about signal bars and coverage maps. They are evolving into digital platforms. KPMG refers to this transition as the shift from telco to techco. Telecom operators are transforming into technology companies offering services across cloud computing, Internet of Things, financial technology, and entertainment services [1].


Rather than merely selling connectivity, techcos now build services on top of their networks, often through ecosystem partnerships. The result is faster growth, greater customer value, and new revenue streams that extend beyond data [1].


More, with Less Code

Building everything in-house is no longer sustainable. Telecom operators are increasingly embracing modular, application programming interface-first solutions that save time and reduce complexity. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative, supported by over sixty seven mobile operators, is standardizing network application programming interfaces to allow developers to access telecom capabilities such as quality of service, number verification, and billing across networks globally [2]. Forward thinking telecom companies are not simply purchasing tools. They are co-creating them with developers through open ecosystems. This approach is faster, leaner, and significantly more scalable [2][3].


Developers Are the New Power Partners

The fastest-growing applications and features in telecommunications are not being developed in internal labs. They are being created by external developers. From artificial intelligence powered onboarding tools to fraud detection engines, agile developer teams are solving challenges that internal telecom teams may not have the capacity to resolve [2][3]. The GSMA Open Gateway initiative supports this transition by providing developers with standardized access to network capabilities such as quality on demand, SIM swap, number verification, and device location across multiple mobile networks [3].


Plug and Play Is the New Standard

Telecom companies now require tools that can be tested, deployed, and scaled without months of integration complexity. In September 2024, Ericsson and twelve global telecom companies including Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, and Orange launched a joint platform for plug and play application programming interfaces. This platform offers developers a unified standard for building applications across carriers [4].


Why it matters:

  • One integration enables multiple carrier rollouts

  • Faster time to market

  • Minimal information technology burden

  • That is plug and play done right and telecom companies are demanding more of it every quarter [4].


Dealflow Where Telco Needs Meet Developer Readiness

After years of delayed innovation cycles, telecom operators understand that speed is not only about infrastructure. It is about access. The challenge is not simply finding the right tool but identifying who has already built it. This is where AppTechCo’s Dealflow becomes essential.


Designed to connect telecom companies with vetted, ready to deploy application developers, Dealflow is a curated engine that replaces scattered sourcing with structured opportunity. This enables both parties to move faster, more intelligently, and with greater clarity.


As Wenhan Zhou, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Walkie, stated “AppTechCo gave us structured visibility into telcos we would not otherwise reach.” [6] Many telecom companies are actively searching for solutions including artificial intelligence onboarding assistants, fraud detection tools, call analytics, and customer experience platforms. However, discovery remains fragmented and procurement processes are often not optimized to locate high-fit, niche developers. Dealflow changes that. It makes the process modular, streamlined, and real-time.


Smarter Revenue Not Heavier Teams

More with less is not solely about operational efficiency. It is about accelerating monetization. According to McKinsey, telecom operators can unlock between one hundred billion and three hundred billion dollars in new revenue through network application programming interface-based services in the coming years [5]. With platforms like AppTechCo offering co-marketing support, joint go to market strategies, and simplified onboarding, telecom companies do not need to double their workforce to double their service offerings [5].


Agility Beats Size

The largest telecom operator in the room will not necessarily be the one that succeeds. The most agile one will. Telecom companies that adopt a platform mindset, integrate into developer ecosystems, co create quickly, and deploy intelligently are already gaining a competitive edge. Others remain bogged down in internal roadmaps and extended timelines.


AppTechCo delivers the ecosystem speed that telecom operators require and provides developers with the distribution they deserve.


Because doing more with less is not about doing less. It is about doing it smarter, faster, and together.


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