Inclusions of operator algebras from tensor categories: beyond irreducibility

Abstract We derive faithful inclusions of C*-algebras from a coend-type construction in unitary tensor categories. This gives rise to different potential notions of discreteness for an inclusion in the non-irreducible case and provides a unified framework that encloses the theory of compact quantum group actions. We also provide examples coming from semi-circular systems and from factorization homology. In the irreducible case, we establish conditions under which the C*-discrete and W*-discrete conditions are equivalent.