stc Group Strengthens Bridge Alliance Partnership, Becoming First MENA Operator to Commit to Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx)
The stc Group has made history by becoming the first telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to fully support the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx). This milestone was marked by a new strategic partnership agreement with Bridge Alliance, focusing on integrating telecommunications APIs into digital products.
At the influential LEAP technology conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the stc Group and Bridge Alliance celebrated a decade of successful collaboration. During this event, they announced plans to enhance their cooperation, particularly in the realm of the Internet-of-Things (IoT), while also expanding their focus towards telecommunications APIs.
By April 2025, this partnership will see the stc Group and its operators in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia engage in cutting-edge digital transformation initiatives. Leveraging both companies’ expertise and market influence, the agreement promises to foster innovation throughout the MENA region and beyond.
stc Group’s onboarding to the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) sets a precedent in the region by joining a network of 13 other operators. Established by Bridge Alliance in 2024, BAEx serves to aggregate telecommunications APIs, significantly reducing complexity and facilitating smooth access for stc Group and its enterprise customers. The unified integration structure, straightforward commercial framework, and shared operational support models of BAEx are expected to stimulate the creation of new business opportunities and revenue streams.
In the IoT sphere, stc Group plans to continue its collaboration with Bridge Alliance to fortify its business solutions and seek mutually advantageous ventures. This includes connected car projects in the Middle East, which are crucial for advancing smart transportation systems, enhancing the remote vehicle operations, and laying the groundwork for smart city infrastructures.
Dr. Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance, reflected on the growing synergy with stc Group, emphasizing the substantial mutual development and increased influence each company has achieved in their respective regions. Dr. Ong expressed excitement about the extended partnership, focusing on amplifying IoT business growth on a global scale and exploring the untapped possibilities of telecommunications APIs.
The BAEx, underpinned by Singtel’s Paragon orchestration platform, aims to offer an uncomplicated integration experience with a single contract, eliminating the need to handle multiple operators separately. Inspired by the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative and Project CAMARA, BAEx seeks to establish a set of universal network APIs that provide developers with comprehensive access. The Number Verification and SIM Swap APIs are current offerings at BAEx, with the Number Verification API having earned GSMA’s Open Gateway Certification in January 2025.
The stc Group continues to emerge as a formidable player in API and IoT fields, driven by its digital transformation agenda. This partnership with Bridge Alliance undeniably amplifies its capacity, unlocking new horizons for innovation and growth.
