Get the latest announcements from MEF Members across the mobile ecosystem globally in this weekly review of member news…
Arelion and Cellusys Partner to Deliver Suite of Hosted Roaming Services
Arelion has partnered with Cellusys to offer a hosted roaming Value Added Services suite via Arelion’s global IPX and backbone. The solution helps operators enhance roaming performance, security, and subscriber experience while preparing for 5G Standalone. Key offerings include hosted security with the Cellusys Signalling Firewall, roaming services such as steering, Welcome SMS, and campaign profiling, and real-time analytics for data-driven decisions and faster problem resolution. Delivered end-to-end, the hosted suite reduces the need for on-premise infrastructure, simplifies operations, and enables rapid activation of new services.
“This is an important step in the evolution of our IPX services which adds to our current connectivity solutions, enabling our customers to strengthen security, drive revenue and enhance their roaming capabilities over Arelion’s global network,” said Anna Maslewska, Head of Products at Arelion.
“We are delighted to partner with Arelion to deliver our solutions on a global scale. Together, we enable operators to deploy roaming services and signalling security without heavy investments or delays, while providing the intelligence needed to operate smarter in the 5G world,” said Brendan Cleary, CEO at Cellusys.
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iBASIS Strengthens APAC Footprint with New Tokyo IPX PoP
iBASIS has launched a new Point of Presence in Tokyo, its 14th globally and third in the Asia-Pacific region, as part of its expansion of IPX infrastructure in Asia. The PoP addresses growing demand for roaming and cross-border data services, offering operators more direct routes, improved network resilience, and lower latency. It enables the delivery of a wider range of services, including real-time IoT and 5G applications, while ensuring consistent and reliable international connectivity to enhance the quality of the roaming experience.
“Establishing a presence in Tokyo brings us closer to key markets and expands inter-Asia paths, ensuring reliable performance for roaming and next-generation services,” said Ajay Joseph, CTO at iBASIS. “This step aligns with our broader deployment roadmap and will complement our recent expansion in the region with the acquisition of Telstra International’s wholesale voice, IPX, and messaging assets.”
“Japan’s strategic role in global internet infrastructure is underscored by its position as a critical junction for advanced telecom services. As a major data traffic hub, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan’s significance extends beyond domestic demand. Its status as a transit and innovation center makes it a logical location for direct IPX presence, facilitating enhanced connectivity and service delivery across the region,” said Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy & Insights at Kaleido Intelligence.
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iconectiv Champions Data Integrity and Trusted Communications in the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s telecom sector is rapidly evolving, with mobile subscriber penetration expected to reach 71% in 2025 due to increased broadband access and digital adoption. This growth presents both opportunities and challenges for CSPs, regulators, and policymakers in delivering secure and reliable connectivity. Trusted communications provider iconectiv showcased its operational and security platforms at the OOCUR 20th Annual Conference in Montego Bay, with Director of Product Management Bob Grant presenting on advancing universal connectivity and strengthening fraud defenses in voice and messaging networks across the region.
“Ubiquitous connectivity and trusted communications are critical to the Caribbean’s digital future,” said Peter Ford, Executive Vice President, iconectiv. “By combining data integrity, policy innovation and proven industry practices, Caribbean regulators and CSPs can unlock the full potential of their networks while safeguarding against threats like fraud and messaging abuse. iconectiv is proud to support OOCUR in driving this important dialogue and collaborating on solutions that deliver transparency, resilience and trust.”
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UnionDigital Bank Implements iProov Liveness Solutions to Thwart Account Takeover and Mule Activity
iProov has deployed its Dynamic and Express liveness solutions at UnionDigital Bank in the Philippines to protect against account takeover and mule activity. The solutions support the bank’s risk-based authentication strategy, providing heightened security for high-risk transactions while ensuring a smooth experience for everyday use. This upgrade helps UnionDigital Bank deliver a safe, inclusive digital banking experience for underbanked communities and aligns with global regulatory focus, including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on strengthening cybersecurity amid rising AI-driven threats in the financial services sector.
“Our mission is to uplift the lives of all Filipinos through a secure, trusted, and accessible digital bank for all Filipinos, and that requires deploying resilient infrastructure capable of addressing sophisticated fraud,” said Russell Hernandez, Chief Information Security Officer at UnionDigital Bank. “Our vision is for every Filipino to use UnionDigital Bank to empower their lives. As we shift toward risk-based authentication, we need a flexible and future-ready solution. iProov’s internationally proven ability to deliver ease of use, speed, and high security assurance — backed by reliable vendor support — ensures we can evolve our fraud defenses while sustaining customer trust and confidence.”
“We are delighted to have been chosen by UnionDigital Bank to support its mission to deliver secure and truly inclusive digital banking across the Philippines,” said Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov. “Proving that someone is who they claim to be online is at the heart of digital trust. Our technology provides the highest level of identity assurance on virtually any device to provide that protection. This ensures UnionDigital Bank can secure all its customers with an effortless and resilient solution, which is especially crucial for underbanked communities who rely on mobile devices for their financial needs.”
LightOn, Edarat Group, and NVIDIA Collaborate with Orange Business to Launch Live Intelligence in the Gulf Region
Orange Business launched Live Intelligence, a secure, regionally hosted Generative AI platform for governments and enterprises in the GCC, introduced at GITEX 2025. Developed with partners LightOn, Edarat Group, and powered by NVIDIA, the platform ensures data sovereignty while enabling high-performance AI applications. LightOn provides advanced multimodal AI technology, Edarat supplies on-demand GPU cloud infrastructure hosted in KSA, and NVIDIA delivers the computing power for AI at scale. The initiative positions the GCC as a hub for sovereign AI, driving digital transformation, regional resilience, and economic growth.
“The GCC is emerging as the next global hub for sovereign AI, where technology leadership meets a deep understanding of sovereignty and security. With Orange Business, Edarat, and NVIDIA, we are uniting world-class expertise with regional capability to make this vision real. Together, we bring the only combination of experience, trust, and infrastructure capable of delivering true generative AI sovereignty at scale in the Gulf,” said Igor Carron, Co-Founder and CEO of LightOn.
“This strategic collaboration between LightOn, NVIDIA, Orange Business and Edarat Group represents a key milestone in shaping the future of Sovereign Generative AI in the region. A future in which intelligence, infrastructure, and innovation unite to drive national resilience and regional leadership. By combining global innovation with sovereign cloud and GPU infrastructure, we are empowering public and private sector organizations to accelerate digital transformation securely, responsibly, and in full alignment with data sovereignty mandates” said Jihad Nehme, Chief Business Development Officer, Edarat Group.
Somos and First Orion Deliver End-to-End Call Authentication to Eliminate Spoofing and Restore Trust in Voice Communications
Somos, Inc. partners with First Orion to offer an advanced, standards-based call authentication solution. Combining Somos’ RealBrand™ verified number management with First Orion’s real-time call branding, the solution ensures each call is authenticated, securely transmitted, and accurately presented. Enterprises can establish verified rights to use numbers, prevent spoofing, and enhance brand trust. Delivered via a flexible SaaS and hybrid model, this integrated approach empowers organizations to confidently manage voice communications and restore trust in their calls.
“Voice remains one of the most powerful ways for businesses to connect with customers, but illegal spoofing and mislabeling have eroded confidence in answering the phone,” said Jaime Zetterstrom, VP of Product Management at Somos. “With RealBrand establishing RTU at the phone number level and First Orion verifying every call in real time, we are helping restore trust in the voice channel by ensuring only authenticated calls reach the customer.”
“This collaboration creates a powerful standard for trusted communications across the ecosystem,” said Jeff Stalnaker, President and Chief Financial Officer at First Orion. “Somos’ role in enabling enterprises with verified RTU ensures our authentication technology can deliver the strongest possible protections, including accurate branding that restores customer confidence in answering the phone.”
Proximus, Fiberklaar, Telenet and Wyre welcome the launch of a market test on the proposed gigabit-network collaboration in Flanders
The Belgian Competition Authority, with BIPT, has launched a market test to evaluate a proposed collaboration between Proximus, Telenet, Fiberklaar, and Wyre for expanding high-speed gigabit networks in Flanders. The initiative aims to accelerate fiber rollout to around 2 million homes and businesses, with hybrid fiber-coax for 700,000 additional locations. The partnership, outlined in a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding, seeks efficient, future-proof digital infrastructure, fostering innovation and economic growth. Networks will be accessible to all operators on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms.
Stijn Bijnens, CEO of the Proximus Group, stated that “With this intended collaboration for fiber roll-out in Flanders and the announced MoU for collaboration in Wallonia, we demonstrate that we want to contribute to ensuring the digital competitiveness for the whole country. Whilst Proximus has always been a frontrunner in fiber deployment, smart collaboration between operators is needed to bring fiber to as many citizens and businesses as possible under the right economic conditions, especially in less densely populated areas.”
Service Excellence at Swisscom: First Place for Hotline, Shops and App
Swisscom has achieved a triple win in the latest connect tests, leading in hotline, shops, and service app performance in Switzerland. Its hotline topped both landline and mobile tests, improving on last year’s results and setting a new 2025 record. Staff were rated “outstanding” for expertise, availability, friendliness, and communication quality, delivering quick, reliable, and professional advice. This reinforces Swisscom’s position as the number one provider for service quality across all customer channels.
“We are delighted at this recognition because it shows that we consistently offer our customers an outstanding service experience across every channel,” says Dirk Wierzbitzki, Head of Residential Customers at Swisscom and a member of the Executive Committee Swisscom Switzerland. “Whether on our hotline, in our app or in our shops, our focus on proximity, competence and responsiveness is clearly valued by our customers.”
Twilio Enriches Its Customer Engagement Platform with Next Generation Tools for Data Reliability and Access
Twilio has launched a new suite of platform-wide data tools to help enterprises build and scale trusted customer experiences. Features include Granular Observability, a centralized Alerting Hub, expanded APIs, and Auto-Instrumentation, providing teams with secure, reliable, and flexible access to data. Enhanced observability and alerting enable rapid issue detection and resolution, while centralized logs and alerts ensure data accuracy and readiness for campaigns. These capabilities empower businesses to confidently manage customer data infrastructure and deliver seamless, personalized experiences across all channels.
“High-impact customer engagement starts with data that is real-time, contextual, and trusted,” said Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer and Head of R&D at Twilio. “With today’s updates, we’re giving businesses a smart and intuitive control tower for every signal across the customer journey. By bringing together complete observability, proactive alerting, seamless instrumentation, and API-first workflows, we are unlocking platform-wide capabilities designed to help our customers build engagement that is not only trusted, but truly transformative.”
“Twilio’s focus on data quality, depth of observability, and API extensibility sets a new standard for trusted customer engagement at scale,” said Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director, Futurum. “These added tools and capabilities can help data-driven organizations build customer trust.”
