MEF
Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum) is a global non-profit industry consortium that develops and certifies standards for Network-as-a-Service, LSO APIs, and Carrier Ethernet, serving 200+ member organizations across enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, and technology vendors worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MEF does
Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum, rebranded in June 2025) is a global non-profit industry consortium founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The organization operates as the defining standards body for Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs, cybersecurity certifications, and Carrier Ethernet, serving a membership of over 200 organizations spanning enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, technology providers, data center operators, and systems integrators. Its core technology portfolio includes five standardized LSO APIs (LSO Cantata and Sonata for business automation; LSO Allegro, Interlude, and Legato for operational automation), the LSO Blockchain framework with Integrated Trust Network and Smart Contracts, and a broad service standards taxonomy covering IP, Carrier Ethernet, 5G, Optical Transport, SD-WAN, SASE, and Zero Trust.
Mplify monetizes primarily through membership dues structured as recurring subscriptions, with secondary revenue from certification testing and registration fees for service providers, technology providers, LSO API implementations, and individual professionals. Distribution is conducted through event-driven engagement (Global NaaS Events anchored by two annual Member Summits, regional forums, the Southeast Asia Council), self-serve digital platforms (LSO Marketplace, LSO Springboard, LSO Payload Factory, LSO Developer Community), and thought leadership content (Executives at the Edge Podcast, Edge VIEW Blog, State of the Industry reports). The organization also publishes the LSO Solution Provider Landscape Report and operates the NaaS Excellence Awards program to reinforce ecosystem engagement.
The leadership team includes CTO Pascal Menezes, VP Business Development Michael Gagnon, and Senior Directors of Marketing and Research. The company operates a horizontal segmentation model across all five member categories, with primary emphasis on enterprises and service providers seeking certified, interoperable network and cybersecurity services. Notable documented members include Colt Technology Services (participating in LSO Sonata integration projects with Telekom Deutschland) and PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), the latter co-hosting regional leadership forums in 2025.
MEF firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MEF
- Legal name
- Mplify Alliance
- Website
- https://mef.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum) is a global non-profit industry consortium that develops and certifies standards for Network-as-a-Service, LSO APIs, and Carrier Ethernet, serving 200+ member organizations across enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, and technology vendors worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MEF industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Network Standards and APIs
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Site Enterprise Connectivity Bundles (Hybrid WAN/MPLS+Internet) (HDAIAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- API Development, Integration & Microservices Modernization (BPAEAFAD), Cloud Compliance, Audit & Continuous Controls Monitoring (CCM/GRC) (HDABAHAI), ITSM Governance, Compliance & Audit Readiness (BPAEAJAM)
Keywords
Where MEF is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MEF business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: MEF/Mplify Alliance operates as a global alliance with over 200 member organizations. Revenue is generated through membership fees from enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, technology providers, and systems integrators.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
MEF product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum) develops and maintains industry standards, Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs, and certification programs for Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, SSE, and Zero Trust. It sells membership subscriptions to enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, technology providers, and systems integrators, and provides API access, certification testing, and developer enablement through the LSO Marketplace. The organization also runs community events, research reports, and the NaaS Excellence Awards program.
Product overview
Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum, rebranded June 2025) operates as a global alliance providing a platform-plus-framework architecture centered on Network-as-a-Service (NaaS). The core portfolio includes Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs for automation (LSO Cantata, LSO Sonata for business automation; LSO Allegro, LSO Interlude, LSO Legato for operational automation), supplemented by LSO Blockchain with Integrated Trust Network for smart contracts. The LSO Marketplace, Springboard, Payload Factory, and Developer Community provide ecosystem access and enablement. Service Standards cover connectivity (IP, Carrier Ethernet, 5G, Optical Transport), application assurance (SD-WAN), and cybersecurity (SASE, Zero Trust). Certification programs serve service providers, technology providers, LSO API implementations, and professionals. The ecosystem is supported by research reports, the Executives at the Edge Podcast, Edge VIEW Blog, NaaS Excellence Awards, and Global NaaS Events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Framework Comprehensive framework for on-demand connectivity, application assurance, cybersecurity, and multi-cloud networking services enabling enterprises to access standardized, certified network services without owning infrastructure.
- LSO Cantata LSO API for business automation, part of the Lifecycle Service Orchestration suite enabling standardized automation of enterprise network service ordering and management.
- LSO Sonata LSO API for business automation enabling standardized automation workflows for enterprise network service operations and business processes.
- LSO Allegro LSO API for operational automation focused on network service operations and infrastructure management.
- LSO Interlude LSO API for operational automation providing standardized interfaces for network service orchestration and operational workflows.
- LSO Legato LSO API for operational automation enabling standardized lifecycle management of network services and infrastructure.
- LSO Blockchain (Integrated Trust Network) Blockchain-based trust infrastructure including LSO Smart Contracts for automating agreements and transactions within the network service ecosystem, powered by the Integrated Trust Network.
- LSO Marketplace Platform providing easy access to the latest LSO APIs and resources for developers and service providers to discover and implement MEF's automation standards.
- LSO Springboard Developer enablement platform providing tools and resources to help developers get started with implementing LSO APIs.
- LSO Payload Factory Tool for creating and managing API payloads for LSO implementations, supporting standardized request/response formats.
- LSO Developer Community Community platform for developers working with LSO APIs to collaborate, share knowledge, and advance implementation best practices.
- Service Provider Certifications Certification programs for service providers covering Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, SSE, and Zero Trust services, with corresponding service registries.
- Technology Provider Certifications Certification programs for technology providers covering Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, SSE, and Zero Trust technology solutions.
- LSO API Test & Certifications Testing and certification services for LSO APIs including test services, API certification, and LSO API Registry for validated implementations.
- Professional Certifications Professional certification programs for individuals in Carrier Ethernet, SD-WAN, and SDN/NFV technologies, with a professional registry.
- Service Standards Standardized service specifications including Underlay Services (IP, Carrier Ethernet, 5G, Optical Transport), Overlay Services (SD-WAN), and Cybersecurity Services (SASE, Zero Trust).
- Global NaaS Events (GNE) Year-round engagement program anchored by two Member Summits, establishing a focused framework for sustained NaaS industry collaboration.
- NaaS Excellence Awards Annual awards program highlighting innovation, collaboration, and industry leadership within the NaaS ecosystem.
Companies that use MEF
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
MEF technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
MEF partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin)coreMEF and Telin co-hosted the MEF Leadership Forum Indonesia and MEF Meet-Up Jakarta 2025, bringing together industry leaders to discuss digital transformation themes including Telco APIs, Agentic AI, mobile intelligence, and the API economy. Telin executives led multiple keynote sessions and panel discussions, including presentations on Telin's CPaaS platform NeuAPIX, RCS adoption, and Indonesia's roadmap toward a USD 130 billion GDP target by 2030.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MEF competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute): Major European-based ICT standards organization producing globally adopted standards across telecom, networking, and emerging technologies. Comparable as a broader telecom standards incumbent with overlapping subject matter (5G, network slicing, NaaS-related APIs) and a similar standards-development governance model.
- ITU (International Telecommunication Union): United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. Comparable as a higher-level incumbent telecom standards body covering carrier networks, 5G, and emerging network architectures; offers a broader and more governmental alternative to Mplify's vendor-led approach.
Direct peers
- GSMA: International mobile industry organization representing mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. Comparable as a global membership consortium standardizing mobile network services (e.g., eSIM, RCS, Open Gateway APIs) and offering certification programs for the same enterprise member base Mplify serves.
- Open Networking Foundation (ONF): Operator-led consortium driving open, programmable network infrastructure through reference designs like SDN and disaggregated broadband. Comparable as a membership-driven standards body for network operators and vendors pursuing software-defined networking and automation, overlapping on NaaS-adjacent territory.
- TM Forum: Global industry association for telecom operators and digital service providers, focused on OSS/BSS standards, APIs, and digital transformation. Directly comparable as a membership-driven consortium that defines operational standards for telecom service providers, with overlapping member base and similar revenue model.
- Broadband Forum: Industry standards organization for broadband networks covering DSL, fiber, and emerging access technologies. Closely comparable as a nonprofit consortium publishing interoperability standards, certification programs, and APIs for fixed-line network operators — a direct neighbor to Mplify in the access and connectivity stack.
Peers
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MEF social profiles
Digital presenceMEF financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MEF leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
MEF funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MEF M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MEF
What does MEF do?
Mplify Alliance (formerly MEF Forum) develops and maintains industry standards, Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs, and certification programs for Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), Carrier Ethernet, SASE, SD-WAN, SSE, and Zero Trust. It sells membership subscriptions to enterprises, service providers, cloud providers, technology providers, and systems integrators, and provides API access, certification testing, and developer enablement through the LSO Marketplace. The organization also runs community events, research reports, and the NaaS Excellence Awards program.
Is MEF a public or private company?
MEF is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MEF founded?
MEF was founded in 2001. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is MEF based?
MEF is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does MEF make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Who are MEF's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union). Direct peers are GSMA, Open Networking Foundation (ONF), TM Forum and Broadband Forum. ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions) is listed as a peer.
Does MEF have an API?
Yes. MEF provides Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs standardized to enable and scale an automated ecosystem. The LSO APIs include business automation APIs (LSO Cantata, LSO Sonata) and operational automation APIs (LSO Allegro, LSO Interlude, LSO Legato). Access is available through the LSO Marketplace (LSO.Mplify.net), LSO Springboard, LSO Payload Factory, and LSO Developer Community. Developer documentation is at lso.mplify.net.
What industry is MEF in?
MEF's product category is Network Standards and APIs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAFAL, Multi-Site Enterprise Connectivity Bundles (Hybrid WAN/MPLS+Internet), with a secondary code of BPAEAFAD, API Development, Integration & Microservices Modernization. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.