Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…
Infobip forecasts growth in online sales this Black Friday
Infobip anticipates over $10 billion in US online sales this Black Friday, reflecting a 7% year-on-year increase from $9.8 billion in 2023. This projection aligns with a rise in SMS interactions on its platform, expected to grow by 25% from 1.3 billion last year to 1.7 billion. Globally, SMS traffic on Black Friday is predicted to surge 120% above the November average, as brands leverage messaging to drive sales. As the largest US SMS provider, Infobip highlights consistent annual growth in Black Friday sales, which rose from $9.1 billion in 2022 to $9.8 billion in 2023.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events are no longer just about one weekend. Instead, our data shows they are starting earlier and extending further. We now see a ‘shopping month’ as deals are spread across November. Retailers and eCommerce firms hope to attract cost-conscious consumers waiting for the best deals and discounts, driven by economic impacts which makes customers seek for better pricing and offers. We predict that rich messaging – Rich Communication Services (RCS) – will emerge as an essential channel for shoppers following its adoption by Apple. We expect retailers to focus on hyper-personalization to drive a more conversational customer experience and boost sales.” Ivan Ostojić, Chief Business Officer at Infobip
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IoT Cybersecurity Market to Reach $60 Billion Globally by 2029
A Juniper Research study projects global IoT cybersecurity revenue will double over the next five years, growing from $27 billion in 2024 due to the rapid adoption of enterprise IoT devices. This surge highlights the need for enhanced security measures to prevent potential cyberattacks and significant financial losses.
The network layer is identified as the most critical component to secure, accounting for 45% of IoT cybersecurity spending in 2025. Enterprises are expected to increasingly invest in advanced solutions like Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) to counter AI-driven threats.
To ensure comprehensive protection, businesses must adopt integrated approaches such as Extended Detection and Response (XDR), which unifies and automates security across networks, Cloud, and endpoints.
Research author Michelle Joynson stated, “We expect 91% growth in the number of global IoT connections in service over the next five years. To protect these connections, cybersecurity platforms must provide unified threat detection and security management solutions that combat emerging threats, mitigate endpoint vulnerabilities and reduce network complexity.”
ICS has been honored with the 2024 MVNO Nation Global Award for “Most Comprehensive eSIM Solution,” recognizing its impactful contributions to the MVNO and service provider ecosystem. Selected through a public voting process and reviewed by industry experts, ICS stood out for its versatile eSIM solutions, particularly its partnership with Carrefour. This collaboration enabled Carrefour to launch a branded Travel eSIM, offering seamless global connectivity with multi-language and multi-currency support, integrated payment options, and a management portal.
ICS’s eSIM solutions cater to industries like travel, Industry 4.0, and IoT, showcasing innovation and scalability. With an estimated four billion smartphones supporting eSIMs by 2028 and Travel eSIM spending projected to grow 500% between 2023 and 2028, ICS’s solutions highlight the growing commercial opportunities in this sector.
Luc Vidal-Madjar, Head of IoT and Roaming Solutions at BICS said: “It’s a great honor to be recognized for this award, especially in a key category like ‘Most Comprehensive eSIM Solution’. This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. A huge thank you to the voters and judges for this important recognition!”
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Enea appoints Teemu Salmi as new CEO
Enea AB has announced the appointment of Teemu Salmi as its new President and CEO, effective April 1, 2025. Salmi, currently CEO of Nordic cybersecurity provider Nixu Corporation, brings extensive experience in both telecom and cybersecurity. During his tenure at Nixu, which was recently acquired by DNV, he led strategic growth initiatives.
He has also held senior roles at Ericsson and Stora Enso, overseeing international sales and delivery operations, including significant time in the Middle East and Africa. Enea’s board highlighted Salmi’s expertise and leadership as key to driving the company’s continued growth and value creation for stakeholders.
“I am happy about the trust put in me and extremely motivated to start working with the company and board, to continue to successfully grow Enea.”, says Teemu Salmi.
“It has been a long process to find the right candidate and I am very pleased to be able to announce Teemu as our new CEO. With his background in both telecom and cybersecurity he is perfect in this role”, says Chairman of the board Kjell Duveblad.
LSEG selects IDVerse identity infrastructure to complement IDV stack and fight digital deepfake deception
LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) has partnered with IDVerse to enhance global identity verification infrastructure and combat digital deception in customer onboarding. This collaboration will expand LSEG’s existing suite of digital identity and fraud prevention tools, enabling businesses to address threats like synthetic media and deepfakes while exploring new geographical opportunities.
By integrating IDVerse’s advanced identity verification technology, including its Zero Bias AI™ that minimizes discrimination based on race, age, or gender, LSEG aims to provide faster and more reliable document and biometric verification. This partnership reflects the growing demand for robust identity solutions to mitigate fraud and improve user security.
John Myers, CEO, IDVerse commented: “London Stock Exchange Group is built on a heritage of trust and integrity and we at IDVerse are extremely proud to become a critical infrastructure element in their identity stack. The pace of evolution in digital deception means that identity platforms like LSEG required a tool that adapts to new fraud vectors whilst giving a great customer experience to good customers. This is illustrated by IDVerse now experiencing 1 in 4 fraud attempts involving digital deception.”
Myers continues: “The partnership with LSEG allows businesses to remain open to new opportunities whilst adapting to a changing world. Their spectrum of risk solutions, all from one trusted partner, helps organisations efficiently navigate risks, avoid reputational damage, reduce fraud and ensure legal and regulatory compliance around the globe”.
Proofpoint appoints Jerome Jullien to Lead EMEA Channels and Alliances
Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company, has appointed Jerome Jullien as Vice President of Channels and Alliances for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Jullien will lead Proofpoint’s channel and alliance operations in this key region, reflecting the company’s commitment to expanding its partner ecosystem and strengthening its channel business.
Based in Paris, Jullien brings over 25 years of IT industry experience, having held senior roles at Vectra AI, Nokia, Riverbed Technology, and EMC. His leadership will play a pivotal role in driving growth and collaboration across Proofpoint’s EMEA partner network.
“Proofpoint is the trusted cybersecurity partner to some of the world’s most respected companies and is committed to its channel go-to-market strategy, giving us an exceptional opportunity for continued growth,” said Jerome Jullien. “Proofpoint continues to develop and launch innovative products to protect its customers’ people, wherever they are working. We believe this will help to expand our ecosystem’s reach and allow our channel partners to grow their Proofpoint business profitably whilst increasing customer relevance.”
Joe Sykora, SVP, Worldwide Channels and Partner Sales at Proofpoint, commented: “Proofpoint is a channel-first organization. As we have expanded our ecosystem in EMEA, Proofpoint’s reputation as the leader in cybersecurity has enabled us to attract great talent. Jerome Jullien’s strong experience and drive will be invaluable in delivering our vision of human-centric security to our key partners, expanding our program in line with growing demand for our market-leading solutions.”
