Telecom Giants Unite to Simplify 5G Network Access
Mobile networks are usually viewed as passive data channels — utilities moving information from cloud to device.
Yet the original promise of 5G never rested solely on speed. The expectation was to expose networks' intelligent capabilities to developers, enabling secure, context aware and responsive applications.
However, gaining access to these advanced features has remained fragmented and technically complex.
This is the challenge Aduna is set up to resolve.
A defining moment for the telecoms industry
Aduna, launched in September 2024, originated as a subsidiary of Ericsson. From the outset, its purpose has been clear: to provide simplified, consistent access to the intelligent capabilities of global mobile networks through common network application programming interfaces (APIs).
These APIs enable developers to access network functions in a standardised way, removing the need to build bespoke solutions for each mobile operator.
Announcing the launch, Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, said: “Today is a defining moment for the industry and a milestone in our strategy to open up the network for increased monetisation opportunities.
“A global platform built on Ericsson’s deep technical capabilities and with a comprehensive ecosystem, that provides millions of developers with a single connection, will enable the telecom industry to invest deeper into the network API opportunity, driving growth and innovation for everyone.”
At its inception, Aduna brought together a consortium of global operators alongside Ericsson. These include América Móvil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon and Vodafone.
A joint venture to tackle 5G monetisation
With the transaction now complete, Aduna moves from a wholly-owned Ericsson subsidiary to a joint venture supported by 13 major telecom operators. Ericsson retains 50% equity in the business, while the remaining 50% is split among the 12 operators.
The makeup of the ownership is central to the venture’s strength. Each partner represents substantial scale and regional coverage.
Collectively, these communications service providers (CSPs) enable Aduna to aggregate mobile network functionality into a single platform, offering developer access across multiple geographies without the usual integration complexity.
The venture structure signals alignment not just in intent but in execution.
These partners are not licensing out features — they are invested stakeholders working towards shared commercial outcomes. This collective model gives the telecom industry an opportunity to better capitalise on 5G infrastructure.
Anthony Bartolo, CEO of Aduna, comments: “The closing of the transaction is another important step for Aduna. In just 10 months, we have built an impressive ecosystem comprising the biggest names in telecoms and the wider ICT industry.
“The closing provides renewed motivation for Aduna to accelerate the adoption of network APIs by developers on a global scale. This includes encouraging more telecom operators to join the new company, further driving the industry and developer experience.”
Building an open ecosystem around the platform
The impact of the Aduna joint venture becomes more visible as a broader ecosystem of technology players begin to connect into the initiative.
Beyond the founding operators, other CSPs and technology companies are joining the network API ecosystem.
These include developer platform providers, global system integrators (GSIs), communication platform-as-a-service (CPaaS) vendors and independent software vendors (ISVs). Notable names such as e&, NTT DOCOMO, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Wipro and Tech Mahindra have aligned with Aduna’s goal of transforming telecom networks into programmable assets.
This evolution marks a shift in how mobile infrastructure is viewed. Instead of functioning as passive data pipes, networks are becoming intelligent platforms. This enables a wide range of applications that are responsive to network context, more secure by design, and better optimised for latency and reliability.
By consolidating access to these capabilities into a single, standardised API framework, Aduna enables developers to build services at scale without custom operator-by-operator integrations.
