Aeris signs KDDI IoT platform transition agreement

Aeris has signed an IoT connectivity management services agreement with KDDI Corporation, covering KDDI's transition to the Aeris IoT Accelerator platform.

KDDI has used the platform since 2017, when Ericsson operated it before Aeris acquired it in early 2023. The new agreement formalises KDDI's move to the Aeris-branded service as Aeris looks to expand its presence in global machine-to-machine and connected device management.

According to Aeris, the platform manages 104 million IoT devices and 42 million connected vehicles worldwide. Its customer base includes automotive manufacturers and utilities, sectors in which operators and platform providers are under pressure to manage devices across borders while maintaining oversight of billing, provisioning and long-term maintenance.

The system combines connectivity management with eSIM orchestration, device lifecycle management, security tools and diagnostics. Aeris said it is designed for large deployments in which customers need to keep connected products running over long periods, including in vehicles and utility networks.

Since acquiring the platform, Aeris has upgraded it through modernisation work, cloud migration and broader cooperation with international connectivity providers. The company said those changes are intended to help customers deliver connected services across multiple countries through a single stock keeping unit while reducing billing complexity.

Platform shift

The agreement continues a relationship that predates Aeris's ownership of the technology. For KDDI, the move provides continuity on an existing platform under a new operator rather than the launch of an entirely new system.

That distinction matters in the IoT market, where many large deployments are built for long asset lives and cannot easily tolerate disruption. Automotive programmes, for example, often run across several model cycles, while utility infrastructure can remain in service for decades.

Aeris presented the contract as evidence of continued demand for the IoT Accelerator platform. The company has positioned the service as a common management layer for multinational customers that need to oversee connected devices in different markets without relying on separate systems for each country or operator relationship.

Asia Pacific focus

The agreement also highlights the strategic importance of the Asia Pacific region for IoT providers. Aeris said it sees the region as a significant market as global IoT connectivity expands, with demand rising from industries that require always-on links between equipment, vehicles and back-end systems.

Telecommunications groups and specialist IoT providers have been trying to capture that demand by offering software platforms as well as network access. In that market, the ability to manage eSIM profiles, monitor devices remotely and handle diagnostics centrally has become a key differentiator, especially for customers operating internationally.

KDDI is one of Japan's largest telecommunications and ICT groups, and the agreement gives Aeris a reference point in a market where carriers are looking for ways to support corporate customers deploying connected products at scale. For utilities, that can include smart meters and grid equipment. For carmakers, it can include embedded connectivity for navigation, maintenance, safety and software-related services.

Aeris also said its platform supports integrated security and diagnostics without requiring software to be installed directly on each device. That approach is relevant in sectors where updating field equipment can be difficult, expensive or constrained by regulation and product design.

Sean Gowran commented on the arrangement in a company statement. "Aeris is pleased to support KDDI as part of their transition to the Aeris IoT Accelerator platform," said Sean Gowran, Vice President of Sales, APAC, Aeris. "The Aeris IoT Accelerator platform delivers tier-1 infrastructure that supports global enterprise connectivity requirements. Our unified global platform enables simplified and secure large-scale IoT deployments, allowing multinational enterprise customers, including automotive OEMs, to innovate and scale during significant market growth phases without complexity. The Aeris IoT partner ecosystem and our Agentic AI platform innovations continue to enhance our ability to deliver advanced connectivity services worldwide."

Aeris said it serves 7,000 enterprise customers, works with nearly 30 mobile network operator partners, and supports 70 automotive programmes across 45 vehicle brands and more than 30 automotive OEM groups. The company said that scale has made it the largest orchestrator of eSIMs for IoT.