At CASA25, we are looking beyond the buzz to focus on the building blocks that will shape the future of programmable communications. One of the most important of those building blocks is vCon—a new open standard for representing conversations.

Why does this matter? Because as AI begins to transform communications, it needs structure. Large language models are powerful, but without a consistent way to capture and exchange conversational data, they struggle to deliver enterprise-grade results. vCon provides exactly that: a standardized “container” for conversations, whether voice, chat, or video.

The Power of a Definition

Last week, we published a guest blog by Thomas Howe, one of the driving forces behind the vCon standard and the vCon Foundation. In his blog, The Power of a Definition, Thomas explained how having a shared definition of what a conversation is can unlock an ecosystem of AI-driven innovation.

At CASA25, Thomas will take the stage for a keynote session to explain why vCons matter, and why they are a cornerstone for agentic AI in communications. His talk sets the tone for a series of deeper dives:

Panel discussions will explore real-world use cases, from customer engagement to compliance and regulatory requirements. A hands-on workshop will give a small group of participants the chance to dig deeper into the standard and its practical implications.

The vCon Foundation and CPaaSAA members are already working together to turn this definition into impact. That means moving from theory to practice—building AI-ready communications that enterprises, service providers, and telcos can trust.

In short: vCon is the missing link. It connects the messy, human side of conversations with the structured, machine-readable world AI needs to thrive.

At CASA25, you’ll hear directly from Thomas and other pioneers shaping this future. Join us in Amsterdam this September to be part of the conversation—and to help shape what comes next!

A month from now, a select group of industry leaders will step through the doors of Amsterdam’s Tobacco Theater — and into a world few ever get to experience. CASA25 isn’t just another conference. It’s a curated, members-only gathering that feels more like an underground speakeasy than a tech event.

Step inside the theatre.

The main stage sets the tone: intimate lighting, velvet seating, and a stage designed not for endless keynotes but for raw, unfiltered conversations. No sales pitches. No noise. Just the kind of insight you can only get when the smartest people in the room are willing to share what really matters.

Slip into the lounge.

Upstairs, leather couches and dark wood panels create the perfect space for fireside chats and whispered strategy talks. This is where connections are made — not in crowded expo halls, but in private corners where ideas flow as easily as the drinks.

Down the hidden stairway.

Follow it and you’ll find a long wooden table tucked away, waiting for closed-door workshops and roundtables. Only a handful of seats at each. The kind of sessions where real collaboration happens, because everyone at the table has skin in the game.

And when the sun goes down…

The doors open to an entirely different vibe. Think neon, velvet booths, a secret bar under cherry blossom trees, and a dance floor waiting for the first beat to drop. This isn’t networking — it’s an invitation to become part of the in-crowd. The people who know. The people shaping what’s next.

CASA25 is not open to everyone. It’s not meant to be. It’s for those who are already moving the industry forward — and for those bold enough to join them. If you’re in, you’re part of a private circle that’s rewriting the future of cloud communications, AI, and network APIs.

A month from now, Amsterdam will host the gathering everyone will be talking about — but only a few will have truly experienced.

CASA25: less talk, more impact. Don’t miss it.

Over the past decade, programmable communications have evolved in waves—each bringing us closer to the vision of truly intelligent, adaptive, and trusted engagement.

Wave 1: CPaaS – The Programmable Foundation

Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) unlocked the ability to integrate voice, messaging, and video directly into applications. For developers and enterprises alike, CPaaS was the first step toward agility—moving away from siloed systems and into programmable, API-driven engagement.

Wave 2: Network APIs – Opening the Telco Core

With initiatives like GSMA Open Gateway, telcos have begun exposing valuable network capabilities—such as Quality on Demand, SIM swap detection, location verification, and identity checks—through standard APIs. This step added a new dimension: trusted, network-level context that CPaaS alone could not provide.

Wave 3: vCons – Structuring the Conversation

Virtual Conversations (vCons) emerged as a shared format for capturing, storing, and sharing interactions across platforms. For the first time, multimodal engagement data (voice, video, messaging, metadata) could be standardized—making it easier to analyze, train AI models, and create consistent experiences across channels.

Wave 4: AI APIs – Context + Intelligence at Scale

The next leap is already here: AI APIs, especially those powered or enriched by telco assets. AI APIs are not just about large language models—they are about combining context (via network APIs), structure (via vCons), and programmability (via CPaaS) to create truly intelligent engagement.

This is where agentic AI comes into play—AI systems that don’t just respond, but act, orchestrate, and decide across multiple systems. Imagine:

An AI customer assistant enriched with real-time network identity checks. A proactive service bot that shifts channels based on QoS triggers. An enterprise agent that combines vCon conversation history with AI-driven sentiment and network data to personalize every interaction.

Why Telco AI APIs Matter

Telcos have unique data, infrastructure, and trust advantages:

Local presence and regulatory compliance. Low-latency edge compute for real-time AI. Verified identity and secure network paths.

When telcos expose AI capabilities as APIs—either homegrown or in partnership with hyperscalers—they can play a central role in the AI engagement layer.

Shaping the Ecosystem at CASA25

At CASA25, we’ll be exploring this convergence head-on:

CPaaS providers bringing orchestration and reach. Telcos exposing network APIs and AI services. vCon innovators ensuring conversation data is clean and portable. AI leaders pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in real-time engagement.

This is not just technology evolution—it’s ecosystem orchestration. Together, we can define the frameworks, playbooks, and demonstrations that show the world what Intelligent Engagement really looks like.

The question is no longer if this will happen. The question is who will lead it.

The energy around CASA25 keeps building—and we’re excited to share that Vonage has just signed on as a sponsor! A true heavyweight in the communications space, Vonage brings the power of Ericsson and a sharp focus on Network APIs, AI, and enterprise enablement.

Their support signals something bigger: CASA25 is becoming the go-to gathering for those shaping the future of programmable communications.

And they’re in good company.

🌟 CASA25 Sponsors (to date)

• Vonage – One of the industry’s most recognized names, with deep expertise in CPaaS and network APIs.
• Gamma – A European leader in UCaaS and cloud communications, focused on next-gen collaboration.
• Crexendo – North American UCaaS/CCaaS innovator with enterprise-ready solutions.
• McKinsey & Company – Strategic powerhouse helping define the telecom and AI landscape.
• Infobip – Global platform helping enterprises and telcos drive customer engagement.
• Radisys – Pioneering open telecom solutions and programmable infrastructure.
• GSMA – Industry-wide champion of Open Gateway and network API adoption.
• Sinch – Cloud communications leader enabling personalized customer experiences.
• 2600Hz (an Ooma company) – Empowering service providers with open, modular voice platforms.
• KPN – Dutch telco leaning into network innovation and open collaboration.
• CM.com – Messaging and payments platform bridging customer experience and communication.

🔥 Why It Matters

These sponsors represent the full ecosystem—from infrastructure and platforms to consulting and customer experience. Together, they’re not just supporting an event—they’re committing to a new phase of collaboration, innovation, and real-world execution in CPaaS, AI, and telecom.

🧭 What to Expect at CASA25

Visionary Keynotes – Hear from the leaders defining what’s next in communications, APIs, and AI. Workshops That Build – Leave the slide decks behind—these are hands-on sessions for co-creation and strategy. Real Conversations – No sales fluff, just direct, practical dialogue between insiders.

CASA25 is where the future of communications takes shape—and with partners like Vonage joining, the momentum is undeniable.

Let’s build what’s next. Together.

At CASA, we don’t do hype. No flashy expo booths. No sales slides. No filler.

Just real conversations with the people shaping the future of communications.

But who exactly are these people?

We looked back at the attendees of CASA23 and CASA24. And while we always knew the vibe in the room was special, the data confirms it.

🧠 A Gathering of Senior Minds

CASA isn’t just another industry event. It’s where the decision-makers show up:

• 67% of participants held senior roles — C-level execs, VPs, founders, or heads of strategy, product, and innovation.
• Another 18% were experienced mid-level leads — the people turning strategy into execution.
• Junior attendees? Just 3%.
• The remaining 12% included expert advisors, consultants, or industry analysts.

This level of seniority makes CASA truly unique. You’re not explaining ideas to the room — you’re shaping them with peers who can drive change.

📚 Curated Content. Zero Sales Slides.

We keep the quality high on purpose:

Every session is moderated by independent analysts from firms like STL Partners, IDC, Mobilesquared, S&P Global, and more. Speakers are chosen for what they’ve built, not what they’re selling. It’s strictly a no sales decks zone — just insight, stories, and hard-earned lessons.

🧬 Real Cross-Functional Collaboration

Unlike single-track tech expos or go-to-market meetups, CASA creates cross-functional collisions:

• 42% of attendees were technical leaders: CTOs, engineers, architects, and product heads.
• 39% were commercial minds: marketing, partnerships, CX, and growth leads.
• 19% came from broader functions: investment, regulation, consulting, and transformation.

The best results? They came from companies who sent both commercial and technical leads — who left CASA aligned and already acting on what they heard.

🕯️ It Starts Before Day One — At the CAVE Dinner

The most strategic conversations often start the night before CASA even begins — at the CAVE dinner, our private pre-event gathering for senior members and special guests.

No microphones. No formality. Just unfiltered dialogue between the people driving transformation across CPaaS, AI, cloud comms, and the broader telco ecosystem.

It’s where partnerships form, ideas are challenged, and where the tone for the rest of CASA is set.

🌍 Diverse, Curated, and Always Evolving

Across CASA23 and CASA24, we welcomed over 120 companies from:

• Tier-1/2 telcos, CSPs and CPaaS platforms
• Global hyperscalers and AI startups
• Security, orchestration, and CX leaders
• Strategy firms, investors, and regulators

Every edition is intentionally sized, with a curated guest list. It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality and conversations that matter.

🚪What’s Next?

CASA25 is happening this September in Amsterdam.

If you’re building what’s next — in telco, AI, communications, or cloud — you’ll want to be in the room. Not just to listen. But to participate, shape, and connect.

And don’t come alone.

Bring your product lead. Bring your commercial lead. Bring your partners.

The more perspectives you bring, the more value you unlock.

This isn’t a conference.

It’s where the future gets debated — and decided.