Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…
Intersel Acquires Upstream: Salim Khoury Appointed Executive Chairman
Upstream has reached a significant milestone with its acquisition by Intersel, a global investor renowned for its telecom sector expertise and strong presence in emerging markets. This acquisition signals strong confidence in Upstream’s innovation, market performance, and strategic direction.
As part of the deal, Intersel’s Chairman, Salim Khoury, has been appointed Executive Chairman of Upstream. With over 35 years of experience in scaling businesses across emerging markets and a background in telecom and digital transformation, Khoury brings valuable leadership and a global perspective. His academic credentials include an MBA from Manchester Business School and executive education from Harvard and London Business School, positioning him well to guide Upstream’s continued international growth.
“I’m honored to take on this role and to join a company that has demonstrated such a strong track record of digital innovation and impact,” said Salim Khoury. “Upstream’s global reach and market potential are exceptional, and I look forward to working closely with the team to unlock new opportunities for growth and transformation.”
“This acquisition is a strong vote of confidence in everything we’ve built,” added Dimitris Maniatis, CEO of Upstream. “I am especially pleased to welcome Mr. Khoury as Executive Chairman. His telecom expertise, market insight, and global reach will be instrumental as we scale our solutions and expand into new markets.”
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LANCK Telecom Wins “Asia Regional Voice & SMS Operator of the Year” at CC-Global Awards 2025
On June 12, LANCK Telecom was honored with the title of “Asia Regional Voice & SMS Operator of the Year” for 2025 at the CC-Global Awards ceremony in Berlin. This accolade reflects the company’s ongoing dedication to serving Asia’s diverse telecom markets, a journey that began in 2011.
Since entering the region, LANCK Telecom has built strong partnerships with leading operators such as Viettel, KDDI, Telstra, ADA (Axiata), VNPT, and Telin. Its presence now spans key markets including Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Myanmar. In 2024, the company saw continued growth in voice and SMS traffic, supported by expanded collaborations with providers like SK Broadband, YTL Communications, and Rakuten. A notable milestone was the establishment of a direct partnership with Timor Telecom, known for its selective interconnection approach.
“We’re honored to receive this award and extend our thanks to Carrier Community and the judging panel for their recognition. Above all, we thank our partners across Asia for their continued trust. We look forward to deepening these relationships and expanding our presence in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines in the months ahead.”
Twilio Expands Platform Capabilities with General Availability of Real-Time Personalization, Data Residency Control, and WhatsApp Business Calling
Twilio has announced the general availability of several new features aimed at enhancing its customer engagement capabilities: Event Triggered Journeys in Twilio Engage, Data Residency for Email (EU), and WhatsApp Business Calling. These updates are designed to help businesses create faster, more personalized, and secure experiences by integrating communications, data, and AI into a unified platform.
As customer journeys become more complex and non-linear, Twilio’s platform enhancements aim to simplify the process of delivering real-time, tailored interactions. The new tools also address growing consumer concerns around data usage and privacy, with the company positioning itself as a trusted provider in a landscape where only 15% of consumers fully trust brands with their data and 61% doubt that companies use personal data in their best interests.
“Great customer experiences are built on communications that are trusted, simple, and smart,” said Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer and Head of R&D at Twilio. “With Data Residency for Email (EU), WhatsApp Business Calling, and our next-generation orchestration capabilities in Twilio Segment, we’re helping businesses respond to customer behavior and earn their trust in real time, scale globally, and enjoy a simplified, more productive builder experience.”
Gamma Launches ‘Edge’ – A New Partner Growth Programme Built on Trust, Insight and Shared Success
Gamma Communications plc has launched Gamma Edge, a new channel initiative aimed at supporting growth-focused partners with the resources needed to scale effectively and profitably in today’s evolving communications market.
Gamma Edge is a customized growth programme, created in collaboration with partners, and focuses on delivering data-driven planning, streamlined commercial tools, and comprehensive full-stack solutions. The initiative unifies strategic guidance, performance-based incentives, and ongoing product innovation within a single, integrated framework—designed to simplify scaling and drive long-term partner success.
“Gamma Edge is a shared commitment to growth” said Will Morey, Managing Director of Gamma Business. “We’ve listened carefully to our partners, what they’re up against, what they value, and what they want from us. This is our response, not just another promotion or a set of incentives, but a structured, strategic programme that helps partners grow with Gamma.”
Go4Mobility Strengthens Presence in the Middle East with Kuwait Entry
Go4Mobility has announced its expansion into Kuwait, marking a strategic entry into one of the Gulf region’s most digitally dynamic markets. This move aligns with Kuwait’s “Vision 2035,” which emphasizes economic diversification and innovation. The company sees strong potential in Kuwait’s hyper-connected environment, rapidly growing e-commerce sector, and increasing demand for advanced mobile services. With a deep understanding of the region’s digital needs, Go4Mobility is confident in its ability to support local businesses and contribute to Kuwait’s digital transformation by delivering innovative, mobile-first solutions tailored to this evolving landscape.
“Kuwait’s digital dynamism, supported by the strategic goals of “Kuwait Vision 2035,” presents a remarkable opportunity. As the country navigates its Fintech Revolution, success will belong to those who offer mobile-first solutions that are secure, inclusive, and incredibly simple to use.
Go4Mobility is excited to bring our global expertise in mobile payments and content monetization solutions to Kuwait. We are here to help businesses bridge the final gap in the user journey, turning mobile engagement into sustainable revenue.”
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Infobip brings voice calling to WhatsApp Business users
Infobip has launched WhatsApp Business Calling, a new feature allowing businesses to make and receive voice calls through their WhatsApp Business numbers. This move enhances Infobip’s omnichannel communications platform by enabling real-time, in-app voice interactions with customers globally. Calls can be initiated directly from WhatsApp chats, interactive messages, or embedded deep links, making it easier for customers to connect. Integrated with Infobip Conversations—its cloud contact center solution—the feature ensures a seamless switch from messaging to voice while preserving conversation context and history, streamlining customer support and engagement.
Our customers tell us voice remains critical for delivering exceptional service, especially for complex issues that require real-time interaction. With WhatsApp Business Calling, we’re seamlessly blending the convenience of chat with the immediacy of voice – within a secure, branded environment that customers trust and prefer.” Mijo Soldin, VP Voice and Telecom Strategy at Infobip.
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Vibes RCS launch shows outstanding early results, with tripled customer engagement and 30% revenue boost vs. SMS
Vibes, a mobile-first engagement platform serving top retail and restaurant brands, reports that its initial RCS (Rich Communication Services) campaigns are generating three times higher engagement rates compared to traditional SMS messaging. This early success suggests that consumers are responding positively to the richer, more interactive experiences RCS offers—such as embedded visuals and one-tap replies. Even more notably, Vibes’ clients have seen a 30% revenue increase from RCS messages compared to identical offers sent via SMS or MMS. These results underscore the impact of RCS’s advanced features on customer behavior and business outcomes.
“These initial results are already telling us just how beautifully RCS works to engage customers and drive revenue”, said Alex Campbell, Vibes CIO and Co-Founder. “It indicates that RCS is likely to replace MMS as a mobile engagement format; and, because of its many app-like features, bring much of the brand and customer communication that once lived in mobile apps into RCS messaging instead”.
