Six telecommunications companies have teamed up to establish an alliance, named Alaian, to share best practice and expertise on innovation and generate different use cases for the latest market developments and technologies.

The members, Bouygues Telecom, Cellnex, KPN, MTN, Telefónica and Windtre, are also embarking on a global search for startups based on use cases that enrich existing and new telecommunications technologies such as fifth-generation (5G) and fibre.

The selected companies will be able to access the 5G connectivity and edge computing resources of the alliance’s members, as well as carry out tests in the 5G laboratories with the intention of integrating them into the solutions of the different telecommunications companies.

“For a long time, we have decided to get closer to those who have the ideas, those who innovate and create. With startups and open innovation, we can invent the future together. This new alliance gives us the chance to meet new startups from different backgrounds to discover and share opportunities with companies that share the same challenges as us, such as 5G development, customer experience, sustainable development and the metaverse,” says Bouygues Telecom chief innovation officer Stéphane Allaire.

“We are proud to form part of the Alaian alliance, which will give us an opportunity to work with and share best practices with globally competitive telecommunications companies. “Innovative digital solutions are a huge part of our strategy and our involvement in the alliance will further expose us to partnering with start-ups that are a strong fit with our Ambition 2025 strategy of leading digital solutions to Africa’s progress,” adds MTN Group chief strategy and transformation officer Chika Ekeji.

The startups will be able to exchange knowledge with specialists and network teams to jointly co-develop and solve problems together, accessing the technical, commercial and product support of the alliance members’ network of experts, mentors and trainers, as well as gaining access to their network of contacts and design and build pilots with customers around the world.

There is further opportunity for the startups to obtain assistance with fundraising, training for entrepreneurs, visibility and exposure at the alliance partners’ headquarters, flagship shops, demo centres, labs and hubs to showcase their products to the network of customers and partners.

The alliance members collectively have 700-million customers across 50 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

In addition, equity investment will be possible from any of Alaian’s member investment vehicles, as well as exposure to its global network of venture capital firms.

“Strong cooperation in opening our doors and resources for startups with these global telecommunications companies will increase all our innovation capacities and add value in terms of potential market reach and funding for startups,” adds KPN innovation and partnership manager Jacob Groote.

“We are excited to join Alaian together with other global telecommunications leaders that are all facing a common challenge: expanding beyond the core business, creating and capturing value through new processes, products, services and business models. We are confident that this alliance will help us drive our overall innovation agenda and generate an optimal combination of core business development while also pursuing new solutions,” concludes Windtre 5G and Internet of Things project director Luca Monti.