MEF Advisor and Programme Lead Matt Ekram discusses Aduna and Microsoft’s announced global partnership, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of programmable networks. This development promises to enhance interoperability, enable new enterprise use cases, and support scalable connectivity monetisation across the mobile ecosystem.
In June 2025, Aduna and Microsoft announced a strategic global partnership that marks a turning point for programmable networks. Aduna’s global telecom API platform will now be powered by Microsoft Azure, leveraging AI to deliver real-time insights—and making CAMARA‑standardized APIs easily accessible through the Azure Marketplace (press release). This isn’t just a technological alliance—it’s a blueprint for monetizing connectivity at scale, and a call to action for the mobile ecosystem.

Introducing Aduna: The Connector of Networks
Aduna is a joint venture backed by Ericsson and leading telecom operators, positioned as the global aggregator of network APIs. Describing itself as “the connector of networks,” Aduna provides a unified portal that should transform fragmented communication service provider integrations into a streamlined gateway, reducing hundreds of bilateral agreements to a single API marketplace. Its mission: enable hyper-scalers, CPaaS platforms, and developers to build global, network-integrated applications with minimal friction.
Aduna’s Services: What It Offers
The Aduna‑Microsoft alliance is not merely an integration—it’s the opening act of a new network economy. By combining Aduna’s global API orchestration with Azure’s cloud and AI capabilities, the partnership redefines how network services are bought, sold, and built.“
Through adherence to CAMARA standards—an open-source API initiative under GSMA and the Linux Foundation—Aduna delivers:
- Developer-friendly documentation & code samples that simplify telco complexity
- Aggregated API access to network functions such as:
- SIM swap detection
- Phone number verification
- Device location retrieval
- Quality-of-Service controls
- AI-enhanced analytics, supported by Microsoft, offering deeper insights into API usage and performance
- Global reach via Azure Marketplace, enabling developers to use network APIs as seamlessly as cloud services
- Simplified commercial model for CSPs and developers: a centralized exchange for monetization and trust brokering
Open Gateway/CAMARA APIs: Powered by Azure & Aduna
Aduna’s APIs align with the GSMA Open Gateway framework and CAMARA meta-releases, making a wide suite of network capabilities available to enterprise developers. The mature, production-ready APIs include
- SIM Swap – Detect recent SIM number changes (e.g. device swap or number reallocation)
- Number Verification – Verify ownership of a phone number
- One Time Password (OTP) SMS – Send OTPs securely via SMS
- Scam Signal – Flag high-risk numbers to reduce phishing and fraud
- Location Verification & Retrieval – Check or obtain device location
- Device Reachability & Roaming Status – Monitor device connectivity and roaming
- Quality‑on‑Demand & QOS Profiles – Set and query network quality preferences
- Connectivity Insights – Monitor active connections and performance thresholds
- Call Forwarding Signal – Query if forwarding is active on a number
- Simple Edge Discovery – Discover the nearest edge cloud to a device
- Blockchain Public Address – Secure API interactions using blockchain-addressed identity
These Open Gateway APIs are validated through TM Forum and GSMA conformance, and interoperable across multiple CSPs —ensuring consistency in behaviour, security, and performance.
What This Means for MEF Members
For MEF members—telcos, CPaaS platforms, enterprise developers, and hyperscalers—this partnership delivers three concrete outcomes:
- Global developer access: Azure Marketplace simplifies discovery, procurement, and scaling of network APIs.
- Rapid innovation: Enterprises building security, identity, logistics, or fintech solutions now have easier access to real-time network data and controls.
Call to Action
Aduna and Microsoft deliver a clear message: the programmable network era is here. MEF members and ecosystem stakeholders are urged to:
- Participate actively in CAMARA, GSMA Open Gateway, TM Forum, and certification processes.
- Experiment with network APIs to build real use cases—think secure OTPs, location‑based services, fraud detection, or QoS-driven apps.
- Shape commercial models that balance platform efficiency with CSP control and commercial fairness.
Conclusion
The Aduna‑Microsoft alliance is not merely an integration—it’s the opening act of a new network economy. By combining Aduna’s global API orchestration with Azure’s cloud and AI capabilities, the partnership redefines how network services are bought, sold, and built.
For MEF and its members, the time is now: this programmable network foundation can support new revenue models, cross-sector innovation, and trusted digital experiences—if we join it forward, together.
Watch Anthony Bartolo’s full keynote at the MEF Leadership Forum Americas 2025 and learn how to participate in the programmable network revolution. MEF Leadership Forum Americas 2025.
MEF Leadership Forum Americas 2025
MEF Leadership Forum Americas returns to South Beach, Miami for the third year running. This forum brings together industry leaders, innovators, and regulators to discuss the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of the mobile ecosystem.
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