Last week marked the official launch of Aduna, the joint venture we’ve casually referred to as “The JV” over the past few months, to be headed by industry veteran Anthony Bartolo. First announced in September, right before our annual CASA24 event in Amsterdam, Aduna represents a major milestone for telcos and the CPaaS industry. CASA24 is where the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance gathers members and thought leaders from around the globe to discuss the future of communications platforms, and this year’s event gave us the perfect opportunity to explore Aduna’s potential with our community.
The idea of a unified platform to make Network APIs more accessible isn’t new, but the collaboration between Ericsson and a significant number of telcos brings both scale and focus to this effort. With Aduna, there’s hope for tackling long-standing issues like regulatory complexities, pricing inconsistencies, and the fragmentation in adopting standards such as CAMARA and Open Gateway.
The Industry Response: Optimism for Change
The response from the industry—and among CPaaS Acceleration Alliance members—has been overwhelmingly positive. Many see Aduna as a catalyst for accelerating the adoption of Network APIs, finally bringing much-needed consistency across telcos globally.
Aduna’s potential to stimulate innovation is particularly exciting. By enabling developers, enterprises, and telcos to collaborate seamlessly, it paves the way for creating meaningful use cases in 5G, IoT, and AI-driven services—the very areas where network intelligence can shine.
Big Changes at Ericsson: A Bold Move for the JV
A big part of Aduna’s creation has been Ericsson’s bold decision to reposition itself in the ecosystem. Notably, Vonage, acquired by Ericsson in 2022, will now operate as a customer of Aduna—alongside other major players. This move signals Ericsson’s commitment to fostering a collaborative, platform-centric approach rather than going it alone.
These changes underscore a growing industry understanding: for initiatives like Open Gateway to succeed, telcos and technology providers must work together—not as competitors but as partners. Ericsson’s role in enabling this collaboration is both a strategic shift and a testament to the importance of shared innovation.
Why Aduna Matters: Driving the CAMARA and Open Gateway Movement
Aduna is more than just a JV; it’s a sign that the Open Gateway initiative and CAMARA project are gaining real momentum. For years, we’ve discussed the need to standardize Network APIs to unlock their full potential. Aduna provides a much-needed vehicle to drive this vision forward.
The expectation is that Aduna will not only make APIs uniformly available but also address critical barriers such as regulatory complexity and unsustainable pricing models. These have long hindered innovation and adoption, but Aduna’s collaborative approach has the potential to make a real difference.
What’s Next for Aduna?
The announcement is just the beginning; the real test lies in its execution. Key challenges remain:
• How will Aduna navigate regulatory complexities across diverse regions?
• Can it deliver pricing models that are fair, scalable, and encourage adoption?
• What will the evolving relationship between Ericsson, Vonage, and the telcos look like?
As the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance, we’re eager to see how these questions are answered. Aduna’s success will depend on its ability to foster collaboration, execute on its promises, and deliver tangible value to developers, enterprises, and telcos alike.
Looking Ahead to MWC Barcelona
Aduna’s creation signals an exciting new phase for the CPaaS and telco industry, but it’s clear this story is just beginning. We expect to see more details at MWC Barcelona in March, where the industry will get a clearer picture of how this collaboration will play out.
As CPaaS Acceleration Alliance, we’re proud to be part of the GSMA Open Gateway program at MWC, working closely with our members—including Vonage and Infobip—to advance the ecosystem. We’ll continue supporting initiatives like Aduna that aim to accelerate innovation and drive meaningful change across the industry.
For now, we’ll watch with great interest as Aduna takes its first steps. Here’s to a future where Network APIs truly transform how we connect.
My lifetime in IT and telecoms has been dedicated to innovation, building bridges and creating change. From the early days of cloud communications to working with operators on innovations and business development, and currently emphasizing APIs, CPaaS/CX and AI, my journey has been one of continuous evolution.
As founding partner at CPaaS Acceleration Alliance and The Next Cloud I'm privileged to help global telcos and techcos thrive in a fast changing world - through events, community building, strategy and global business development. I thrive on challenges and change, strategizing in cloud communications, and bringing people together for mutual success. Travel and continuous learning are my passions.
I believe the global communications industry is pivoting to prioritize customer experience and impactful solutions over mere technology and platforms, and we can tackle societal challenges by merging the strengths of corporates and innovators within new ecosystems.
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