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Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…

netnumber Global Data Services Launches Number Lock and Number Watch To Deliver Leading-Edge Protection Against Brand Impersonation and Fraudulent Messaging Activities

BOSTON, Nov. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As the communications ecosystem strengthens its defenses against messaging fraud, netnumber Global Data Services, the world-leading provider of phone number intelligence data, announces the launch of Number Lock and Number Watch. These two robust services were developed to help defend telecom providers, financial institutions and other enterprises against sophisticated acts of organized messaging fraud while furthering recent regulatory initiatives to safeguard text messaging.

“Highly organized, sophisticated fraudsters are attempting to hijack recognized phone numbers of brands and financial institutions and using them to communicate with end-user victims to extort them via text messaging,” said Catalin Badea, VP of Product Management at netnumber GDS. “In this scheme, fraudsters may target phone numbers trusted by a customer base, such as call center or emergency numbers used to report a stolen credit card. The unsuspecting victims believe they are engaging with real brand representatives and are persuaded to divulge account passwords and sensitive information, make purchases or transfer money,” Badea explained.

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Alfa selects VOX Solutions as its exclusive partner for international A2P SMS and OTP VOICE traffic gateway control and optimization

HONG KONG, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Alfa Telecom, Lebanon’s first and leading mobile operator, announces that it has inked a 3-year exclusive interworking agreement with Vox Solutions to ensure higher protection and enhanced control over the entry and delivery of A2P SMS and OTP voice traffic within its network, further reinforcing its ongoing risk mitigation and anti-fraud efforts.

VOX Solutions’ CEO, Ehsan Ahmadi, conveys his determination to address these challenges. “Our primary goal is to assist mobile providers like Alfa in achieving consistent revenue growth and fostering innovation. We are enthusiastic about confronting significant challenges such as increasing flash calling volumes, message spam and AIT. We consider it an honor to undertake this mission and stand steadfast in aiding our partners in reaching their business objectives. This initiative represents a pivotal milestone toward enhancing communication experiences and sustaining ongoing success.”

By strengthening their commitment to driving transformation and innovation in mobile communications, this partnership underscores VOX Solutions’ dedication to providing telecom operators and enterprises with top-tier strategies, cutting-edge technology, valuable data, training resources, and a team of experienced professionals. This substantial step enhances their unwavering efforts to combat fraudulent traffic.

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Mobile Roaming Fraud Losses To Reach $18 Billion In 2025

LONDON, November 15th 2023: New findings from roaming experts Kaleido Intelligence predicts that losses arising from mobile roaming fraud will peak in 2025, reaching $18 billion in value, before declining to $13 billion by 2028. As cyber threats evolve, necessitating resilient fraud management measures, advanced tools to detect and prevent malicious activities, real-time fraud detection systems and 5G security features will collectively minimise roaming fraud losses.

The new research, Roaming Fraud Strategies & Forecasts 2023, found a growing significance of analytics and machine learning in managing roaming fraud for mobile operators. It highlighted the critical need to employ advanced network analytics to enhance security, particularly in addressing the challenge of roaming fraud in the 5G landscape. Kaleido’s latest mobile operator signalling security survey found that a significant 50% of respondents consider fraud and roaming to be the most challenging security aspects to mitigate in 5G.

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Is Direct Carrier Billing In Germany Going Mainstream?

DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2023

Germany is emerging as an interesting market for the direct carrier billing (DCB) value chain. Recent developments, outlined below, have turned the spotlight on the country and the broader European landscape, as DCB looks set to become a more mainstream payment method. MCP Insight is already supporting clients in this market, here we explore the opportunities Germany presents.

With BaFin’s approval, InternetQ is positioning itself to challenge the €50 limit for DCB payments under the PSD2 exemption. It’s understood that the company aims to have this threshold reassessed to accommodate transactions exceeding €50, especially for non-digital goods and services such as charging electric vehicles. The removal of this limit could unlock multiple opportunities, providing customers with a secure, user-friendly and convenient alternative payment method for various goods and services, both digital and non-digital.

Already, Germans have experienced the convenience of DCB in non-digital services through partnerships between nextbike and payments aggregator DIMOCO. Since 2021, cyclists in Germany have been able to hire bikes using DCB, showcasing the potential for expanding this payment method to various mobility services.

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Sinch recognized as a Leader in the 2023 CPaaS Omdia Universe

ATLANTA, USA, and STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Nov. 29, 2023 – Sinch, which powers meaningful conversations between businesses and their customers through its Customer Communications Cloud, today announced that the company has been positioned as a Leader in the Omdia Universe: CPaaS Platform Providers 2023/24. The evaluation was based on specific criteria that analyzed Sinch’s strategy, execution, and market presence.

“Sinch performs strongly across most categories in the Omdia Universe, leading or jointly leading in six categories,” said Pamela Clark-Dickson, Principal Analyst, Advanced Messaging and Communications for Omdia. “The vendor is classified as a Leader in the CPaaS Omdia Universe, with well above average category scores for APIs, value-added services and packaged solutions, innovation, go-to-market strategy, number of customers, non-functional requirements, and implementation services.

“The recognition as a Leader further validates our strong position in a global and growing market,” said Sinch CEO Laurinda Pang. “A great customer experience leverages the right communications channel, at the right time. As Omdia has reported, more than 150,000 businesses around the world have turned to Sinch to keep pace with their customers as consumer preferences evolve.”

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Airtel connects Zanskar Valley in Kargil district with superfast Airtel 5G Plus

Jammu & Kashmir, India, November 27, 2023: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, today, announced that it has connected the Zanskar valley in Kargil district with its ultrafast Airtel 5G Plus. This makes Airtel the only operator to offer 5G services in the Zanskar valley.

Located at an altitude of 7756 m from the sea level, this expansion is part of Airtel’s efforts to connect remotest locations of the country including high-altitude valleys through its ultrafast Airtel 5G Plus services. The company has been ramping its 5G roll-out in the country and has already connected 20000 villages and 5000 towns by Oct 2023. Airtel 5G Plus is available across all districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh. All 25 villages in the Zanskar valley can now enjoy the power of 5G as enjoyed by millions of Indians.

Zanskar located in Ladakh region faces extreme weather conditions in winter making it almost inhabitable for 6 months of the year. The place however becomes a popular tourist destination owing to the famous ‘Chadar Trek’, a trek along the frozen Zanskar river attracting tourists from India and abroad. Network connectivity becomes a critical necessity for safety, during emergencies. Airtel’s 5G service is now operational across Rangdrum, Phey Thang Zanskar, Sani Monastery, Kisherak Rd Padum, Techa Khasar, Karsha amongst others. The launch will not only enhance the quality of life for locals but also readies the tourist destination ahead of its peak travel season. All the 25 villages of this region will benefit from the launch of superfast 5G service.

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Liberty Latin America Chooses BTS as Exclusive Voice International Long-Distance Managed Services Partner for Costa Rica, Panama, USVI, and Puerto Rico International Voice Markets

Liberty Latin America is driven to enhance their customers’ experience through innovative solutions. Recently, BTS was exclusively selected as Liberty Latin America’s ‘Voice International Long-Distance Managed Services Partner’ for Costa Rica, Panama, USVI, and Puerto Rico markets.

LLA’s focus on providing the highest quality services to their customers remains a key priority. BTS is a seasoned industry leader with extensive experience and proprietary technology and reinforces LLA’s pursuit of delivering exceptional quality.

On December 17, 2023, BTS will now function as your exclusive gateway for all Liberty Latin America’s inbound and outbound international long-distance traffic for Costa Rica, Panama, USVI, and Puerto Rico. This holistic approach ensures seamless handling of commercial accounts, negotiations, and international long-distance communication, contributing to a more streamlined and efficient service delivery.

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