Strategy & Operations

e& and TM Forum launch white paper

02 Apr 2026

e& and TM Forum launch white paper as e& UAE secures running on ODA Status

UAE, Abu Dhabi— e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology company e&, and TM Forum today announced the launch of a landmark whitepaper titled “Building a Future-Ready Ecosystem: e& UAE’s Adoption of TM Forum Open Digital Architecture.”

The paper highlights e& UAE’s successful operationalisation of TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA) and achievement of the prestigious Running on ODA (RoODA) status, TM Forum’s formal recognition that Open Digital Architecture is deployed and operating in live production environments.

The whitepaper provides a comprehensive blueprint of how e& UAE transformed its technology landscape from legacy monolithic systems into a modular, cloud-native, API-first digital platform. The company is the first operator in the UAE to achieve RoODA recognition and the leading operator in the Middle East in terms of unique TM Forum Open API certifications, with more than 30 certified APIs implemented across live production environments. These include CAMARA-aligned API exposure and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) designed to speed partner onboarding and new revenue models.

The joint publication demonstrates how standardised architecture, Open APIs, DevSecOps, and ODA Canvas deployment models were embedded into real operational systems — not as theoretical alignment, but as enterprise-scale execution.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer, e& UAE, said: “Running on ODA validates how we’ve moved from point-to-point integrations to a modular, API-first platform. We can onboard partners faster, expose network capabilities through secure APIs and NaaS, and launch services at ecosystem speed. This is the foundation that keeps e& UAE AI-ready while delivering tangible value to customers and partners.

“With more than 30 unique certified Open APIs, we are setting the benchmark in the Middle East for API-driven innovation. This foundation enables us to move at ecosystem speed, integrate partners seamlessly, and continuously launch differentiated digital capabilities that create measurable business impact.”

George Glass, Chief Technology Officer, TM Forum, said: “e& UAE’s achievement and the launch of this whitepaper demonstrate what true operationalisation of Open Digital Architecture looks like. Running on ODA status confirms that e& UAE has embedded open standards, modular components, and API-first principles into live environments at scale.

“Their leadership in Open API certification and ecosystem integration sets a strong example for the region and reinforces the industry’s transition toward composable, cloud-native digital platforms.”

The transformation journey detailed in the whitepaper includes:

• Modularisation of OSS/BSS into reusable ODA components

• Certification of 30+ unique TM Forum Open APIs

• Deployment of cloud-native microservices across hyperscaler environments

• Implementation of event-driven integration and API-first governance

• Participation in TM Forum Catalyst programs, including recognition with two Moonshot Catalyst Awards

By operationalising ODA across engagement, commerce, service orchestration, and integration layers, e& UAE has built a composable, interoperable ecosystem that enables:

• Faster time-to-market for digital services

• Reduced integration complexity and vendor lock-in

• Secure monetisation of network capabilities through APIs

• Scalable, AI-ready architecture for future innovation

This milestone positions e& UAE as a digital architecture leader in the Middle East and a global contributor to the evolution of industry standards.

The whitepaper provides a practical blueprint for telecommunications operators seeking to modernise legacy environments, accelerate service innovation, and transition toward AI-native, platform-centric operating models.

By jointly launching this publication, e& UAE and TM Forum reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing open standards, ecosystem interoperability, and digital innovation across the global telecommunications industry — with the Middle East emerging as a leading hub for next-generation digital architecture.

Link to the whitepaper https://www.eand.com/content/dam/eand/assets/docs/general/eand-uae-adoption-of-tmf-oda.pdf