Mobile operators have been investing billions of dollars into 5G network infrastructure over recent years with the promise of unlocking new revenue streams and enabling transformative applications across industries. In fact, according to the GSMA Intelligence’s 2025 Mobile Economy Report, mobile's contribution to the global economy is expected to reach almost $11 trillion by 2030.

Much of this digital productivity will be driven by countries around the world increasingly benefiting from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased take-up of mobile services and digital technologies, including 5G. In Europe alone, 5G is expected to benefit most sectors, adding around $190 billion of economic value by 2030.

Yet for many operators, the returns remain elusive. Nowhere is this gap more apparent than in the automotive sector – where the demand for ultra-reliable connectivity, real-time data exchange, and advanced driver assistance is accelerating, but the networks themselves are still too often treated as closed, opaque systems.

Cars are rapidly evolving into rolling data centers, generating and consuming vast amounts of information. To support this evolution, networks must do more than provide generic connectivity. Mobile networks must become programmable, developer-friendly platforms that automotive companies and software innovators can build upon. Unless operators open their networks, the potential of 5G in mobility will remain unrealized.

At the GSMA, we see encouraging signs of progress. Initiatives such as GSMA Fusion and our collaborations with the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC), 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), and Jaspar are paving the way for software-defined networks that can meet the unique demands of automakers. These efforts are critical in aligning automotive and telecom ecosystems around a common vision – networks that are intelligent, flexible, and open by design. Automotive can be a $49 billion global opportunity for mobile operators by 2030, if they can get this right.

Why programmable networks matter

What are automakers asking for? In simple terms, transparency and control. They want latency guarantees for safety-critical applications, dynamic quality-of-service for connected services, network scheduling as dataset volumes increase and the ability to directly interact with network capabilities in real time. Today’s “black box” model, where network features are hidden behind closed interfaces, is not enough to support such requirements at scale.

That’s why exposing network APIs is so important. Through the GSMA Open Gateway framework, operators can provide standardized APIs that allow developers – whether they work for automakers, telcos, or independent software firms – to access capabilities such as quality on demand, connectivity insights. location, and edge computing in a secure and interoperable way. This is not just about enabling new automotive services, it’s about making the network itself programmable, so innovation can thrive at the pace of software.

For automakers, this shift represents a path to faster global deployment of connected services, reduced integration costs, and the ability to differentiate in a highly competitive market. For operators, it creates a new developer ecosystem and monetization model that moves beyond connectivity-as-a-commodity. And for developers themselves, it represents an opportunity to stand out – at a time when low-code tools and vibe coding are lowering the barriers to entry, the ability to design network-aware applications will be a differentiator.

A new crossroads for mobility

Thirty years ago, General Motors launched the first mass-market connected car – introducing features like emergency assistance, stolen vehicle tracking, and hands-free calling. It was a turning point for the automotive industry, marking the beginning of a digital transformation that would unfold over the next three decades.

Now, as we approach 2026, the industry finds itself at a similar crossroads. Vehicles are more connected than ever, but the next wave of innovation – autonomous systems, real-time data exchange, intelligent mobility – demands a new kind of talent.

The future won’t be driven by hardware alone, but by software and the people who build it. Developers, empowered by network APIs, are uniquely positioned to shape the next generation of connected vehicles.

The opportunity isn’t just about building new features. It’s about defining the very foundations of mobility in the digital era – moving cars from simply being connected to being programmable. That shift opens new challenges, but also extraordinary possibilities for those ready to build in this space.

The bottom line is that mobility’s future depends on programmable networks. Operators must stop hiding their most valuable assets behind closed doors and start exposing them in ways that are open, interoperable, and secure. By embracing programmability and developer-first principles, mobile networks can finally deliver on the 5G promise – turning connected cars from an untapped opportunity into a transformative reality.