Japanese operator KDDI renewed an IoT connectivity management deal with US platform provider Aeris, a significant backing for the company and its development of the set-up since acquiring it from Ericsson in 2023.

KDDI signed up to what is now the Aeris IoT Accelerator in 2017 and remained a customer after Ericsson’s sale, tapping global connectivity orchestration, management of devices throughout their lifecycles, security and diagnostics, and eSIM orchestration capabilities.

Aeris stated modernisation of the platform involved cloud-readiness along with broader cooperation between international connectivity providers.

The platform is used in 104 million IoT devices and 42 million connected vehicles.

KDDI stands to benefit from “seamless service continuation” as a result of the renewed contract.

The Japanese operator is an important spearhead for Aeris’ ambitions to access what it stated is strong growth in IoT connectivity throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The company expects the global market to grow by 21.7% by 2033 on demand for secure connectivity capable of operating in multiple markets across various industries.

Aeris highlighted automotive and utilities as among the target markets.

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The TM Forum added satellite to an existing framework for digital networks in recognition of forecasts space-based connectivity is poised to become a significant earner over the next 10 years.

Companies including Rakuten Group, Huawei and Netcracker Technology are joined by operators Telekom Deutschland and Vodacom Group among the initial members of the Open Digital Architecture (ODA) for Satellite initiative.

The standards organisation stated the full potential of satellite for services including IoT and direct-to-device connectivity is being held back by various incompatibilities between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, highlighting billing systems and requirements for specialised devices as examples.

Dr Ryan van den Bergh, managing executive for group technology strategy, architecture, spectrum and assurance at Vodacom, said “greater interoperability and simpler integration” are needed to capitalise on the “significant opportunities” to use satellite connectivity as a complement to ground-based networks.

The TM Forum’s existing ODA covers digitalisation measures spanning automation and intelligence. It stated the satellite element adds standard frameworks, operating models and governance for companies working in the terrestrial and non-terrestrial sectors.

It expects the architecture to lay the groundwork for “seamless multi-orbit service delivery” along with speeding integration and boosting the overall value of space and land-based infrastructure.

Willie Stegmann, the body’s EVP for composable IT and ecosystems, said ODA for Satellite is “a call to action” for the telecoms industry.

The group is “overcoming challenges and unlocking avenues for growth…before operating models, customer ownership and value chains are defined elsewhere”.

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