Thai telco AIS and Malaysian telco Maxis signed MoUs with Singtel on Thursday to use its open API-based solutions suite that authenticates digital identities for consumer services – a day after the Bridge Alliance launched a new regional telco API exchange to facilitate such deals.

Under separate MoUs with Singtel, AIS and Maxis will use SingVerify to enable network-based authentication for mobile subscribers.

According to Singtel, SingVerify – which uses open APIs based on the GSMA Open Gateway framework – helps mitigate illegal account takeovers and unauthorised transactions that result from phishing and malware app scams. It also enables a smoother multi-factor authentication process as consumer’s digital identities are verified instantly and directly between the telco and service providers.

Singtel CEO Ng Tian Chong cited a recent report from LexisNexis Risk Solution, which found the overall attack rate for mobile apps in Asia Pacific is higher than the global average, with the majority being carried out by automated bots that target e-commerce payment transactions.

“The rise of ecommerce in the region has opened more avenues for digital fraud, significantly impacting consumers and businesses,” Ng said in a joint statement. “Together with AIS and Maxis, we can combat this rising digital fraud and protect our customers more effectively.”

The first two APIs to federated by AIS and Maxis include Device Location and Number Verify, the latter of which validates customers’ identities by matching their phone numbers with their registered account details on the service provider’s platform.

“The joint Number Verification API will provide businesses and platforms with a robust tool to domestically and regionally authenticate user identities through real-time phone number verification,” said Asnee Wipatawate, head of AIS’ Enterprise Telecom Technology Product Department. “By leveraging the combined strengths of those telcos, the API will offer a comprehensive and secure solution to protect against a wide range of fraudulent activities, including account takeovers, and phishing attacks.”

Wipatawate added that the Number Verification API will be made available to businesses across multiple industries, including financial services, e-commerce, and online gaming.

Singtel signed a similar MoU with rival telco M1 in March to combat digital fraud in Singapore, but this is the first time it has signed a federated telco API deal with overseas operators. Singtel also said the MoUs with AIS and Maxis mark “the first-ever international federation of Telco API in the world”.

Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at the GSMA, said this is what the GSMA Open Gateway initiative was designed to facilitate, and is especially necessary when it comes to combating digital fraud and cyber attacks.

“Cybercriminals operate beyond national borders, so it’s vital that mobile operators and developers of digital services unify behind a common approach to fraud prevention wherever they are in the world,” he said.

Bridge Alliance launches BAEx API exchange

The API tie-up with Singtel, AIS and Maxis comes on the heels of the Bridge Alliance – of which all three are members – launching a regional telco API exchange for its 34 members on Wednesday.

The Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) leverages Singtel’s Paragon orchestration platform to aggregate its member operators’ APIs for network authentication, user verification and network quality. The Alliance says this allows enterprises and developers to streamline deployment of new services on member operator networks by accessing a common API framework that provides secure, consistent and on-demand access to telco network capabilities across multiple regions.

The BAEx also enables regional aggregation and standardisation of telco APIs utilising CAMARA APIs under the GSMA Open Gateway, said Bridge Alliance CEO Ong Geok Chwee.

“Bridge Alliance has been working closely with our member operators and industry partners to advance regional telco API federation, building on the momentum of the GSMA’s Open Gateway framework and CAMARA API standards,” Ong said. “With the newly-launched Bridge Alliance API exchange BAEx, our alliance has a timely opportunity now to lead the charge in serving the needs of enterprises in areas leveraging telco assets, such as network-based authentication.”

Brazilian telecoms regulator Anatel has expressed its disappointment  at a recent decision by another government agency, the electricity-focused Aneel to, essentially, abandon plans discussed by the two regulators on the vexed topic of infrastructure sharing or, more accurately, pole sharing.

Aneel feels there should be a restart to the process of agreeing new regulations for the sharing of poles between the energy and telecommunications sectors, blaming discrepancies in the terms of the joint resolution that was presented to the regulators.

It’s hard to get a precise idea about what drove Aneel’s decision, but it appears to have been a response to a government decree – No. 12,068, of 2024 – which provided for the mandatory assignment of spaces on poles by energy distributors to third-party companies. Aneel was apparently against this measure.

Anatel has published a statement in which it points out that it approved, in October 2023, a proposed joint resolution on the subject, noting that this had been widely discussed with society through public consultation. Aneel’s response seems to have taken until this week to arrive.

Anatel calls the Aneel decision a setback that will have significant impacts on the expansion of the connectivity of Brazilians. It also refers to the poles as “essential infrastructure in the installation of cables used in various telecommunications services, especially internet access”.

Present infrastructure-sharing regulations between telecommunications and energy companies in Brazil have apparently not stopped ad hoc use of energy distribution poles by telecommunications operators – with all that this implies in terms of regulation and safety. 

That, it seems, is why Aneel and Anatel have been attempting to put together a workable system for the use of electricity poles, one that lays out conditions for infrastructure sharing between electricity and telecommunications companies and the price for the use of space on poles.

However, we now appear to be back to square one, as one news source puts it, with doubts about when the talks will actually resume.

Press Release

Telstra has joined a select group of global organisations to champion and advance the ethical development and application of AI

Telstra is the first Australian organisation, and the sixth globally, to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s Business Council to promote the implementation of its Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence advocates for AI technologies to be governed by values that promote human rights, dignity, and environmental sustainability, emphasising transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.

Telstra will work with UNESCO and other member organisations, like Microsoft and Salesforce, to support policy development in critical areas such as data governance and diversity. The Business Council will also work to develop an ethical impact assessment tool, as well as joint initiatives to ensure AI serves the public good.

Kim Krogh Andersen, group executive of Product & Technology at Telstra, says this is about translating the Recommendation into practical action and tangible outcomes.

“AI is a transformative technology that has the potential to benefit societies globally – but it requires very careful and deliberate stewardship,” Mr Krogh Anderson said.

“We’re proud to be the first Australian company to join the UNESCO Business Council and champion the increasingly critical cause of ethical and responsible AI.

“In such a fast-moving space, collaboration is a non-negotiable. We all need to lean on and learn from each other, to ensure AI is developed and deployed in a way that respects human rights, diversity and dignity.

“UNESCO and Telstra share a vision for a future where AI is driven by ethical principles that prioritise human welfare. This collaboration marks a significant step towards realising that future.”

“We are pleased that Telstra has joined UNESCO in the implementation of the Recommendation. UNESCO is leading the international efforts to build ethical, responsible and inclusive AI frameworks worldwide, working with governments from 50 countries, G7, G20 and other international initiatives, and particularly with leading global companies. Having Telstra in our Business Council will foster our speed, depth and reach,” said Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO.

This new partnership builds on Telstra’s strong history of leadership in responsible AI both locally and internationally, working with the Australian government to pilot and test Australia’s AI Ethics Principles, and co-authoring the Responsible AI Playbook with the GSMA.

Across its business, Telstra operates and continually refines a Responsible AI Policy which combines policy, education, advisory and specific risk management controls, allowing it to embrace AI responsibly for the benefit of customers and employees.

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

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In an announcement yesterday, T-Mobile and KKR announced a joint venture to acquire Metronet. The deal follows May’s announcement of a JV with EQT to buy Lumos, offering us a second data point on what seems to be the start of a residential fiber rollup by the ‘Uncarrier’. … [visit site to read more]

Digital infrastructure company Equinix has announced its planned entry into the Philippines with the acquisition of three data centres from Total Information Management (TIM), a technology solutions provider.

Equinix says the acquisition of the three high-performance data centres will provide capacity for it to address the digital needs of local and overseas businesses in the country. It says enterprises, cloud and IT service providers and network service providers around the world can leverage Platform Equinix  to interconnect and exchange data privately and securely within an ecosystem of business partners and customers.

Existing customers of TIM, including network and financial services companies, will also gain access to Equinix’s global ecosystems of more than 10,000 companies, including more than 2,000 networks and 3,000 cloud and IT service providers. The three carrier-neutral and interconnection-rich data centres include more than 1,000 cabinets of capacity and land for further expansion. 

As part of Equinix’s ambitious investment plans in the Asia-Pacific region, the company has plans to expand in new markets including Jakarta, Indonesia (with the JK1 data centre) and Chennai, India (CN1) later this year. With the capacity allocation by the government, Equinix will also expand its footprint in Singapore. 

Following recently announced expansions in Malaysia and Indonesia, Equinix says this strategic move into the Philippines aims to help businesses expand and capitalise on the digital opportunity of the fast-growing Southeast Asia region.

Reuters points out that most Southeast Asian countries present a favourable environment for data centre establishments, thanks to their strong growth potential, young, tech-savvy population, inexpensive land and labour expense, and favourable policies.

It adds that tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have already invested billions of dollars in the region to cater to the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing services.

CallTower, a global leader in delivering unified communications, contact centre, and collaboration solutions, including Microsoft Teams, Webex by Cisco, and Zoom, announced today they are partnering with Tollring to deliver advanced call analytics on Microsoft Teams with Analytics 365. This cutting-edge solution, designed specifically for Microsoft Teams, revolutionises the way organisations harness call data insights to enhance team performance, improve customer engagement and maximise revenue.

Incorporating Analytics 365 Call Analytics into an organisation’s communication strategy can significantly increase sales and drive customer satisfaction levels. By understanding call queues and unreturned or missed call metrics, users can highlight missed revenue opportunities and drive improvements in customer experience. This integrated Microsoft Teams application is purpose-built to help organisations of all sizes manage customer facing teams and build lasting customer relationships. By monitoring call activity, staffing levels and performance, organisations can use intuitive dashboard views and create wallboards to improve performance and meet customer expectations.

Key features of Analytics 365 Call Analytics include:

• Real-time Data Insights: Gain instant access to valuable analytics on communication activities.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and measure performance metrics to improve staffing levels, productivity and operational efficiency.
• Customisable Wallboards: Generate tailored wallboards to monitor call queues and ensure service level targets are met to suit specific business needs and goals.
• In-Depth Reporting: Drill down to the detail and share findings to ensure comprehensive analysis of communications activity and ongoing improvements
• Predictive Analysis: Analyse and anticipate trends to make informed decisions

With Analytics 365 Call Analytics, organisations can unlock the full potential of their communication data, driving growth, innovation, and competitive advantage.

“We are excited to deliver Analytics 365 Call Analytics as part of our larger Microsoft Teams suite,” said William Rubio, CRO of CallTower. ” The analytics offered by Analytics 365 showcase our dedication to providing cutting-edge technology that empowers businesses to excel in today’s challenging business environment.”

Tony Martino, CEO of Tollring, adds “Tollring is delighted to partner with CallTower to deliver Analytics 365 globally through their channels. Coupling Operator Connect with analytics is a powerful combination, both adding value and differentiation to MSP propositions whilst significantly impacting customer experience across their customers.”

About CallTower

Transforming how we connect across the globe! Dive into the future of global communication with CallTower, where the forefront of innovation meets the vast expanse of connectivity. CallTower is revolutionising communications through cutting-edge technology.  CallTower delivers seamless MS Teams, Zoom, and Webex voice solutions elevated by the integration of AI technology, comprehensive contact centre solutions and one-click failover, marking a significant milestone in the communication landscape.

Since its establishment in 2002, CallTower has evolved into a global cloud-based, enterprise-class cloud communications (unified communications, contact centre and collaboration) solutions provider, catering to the needs of expanding businesses globally. CallTower offers and supports cutting-edge solutions such as Operator Connect for Microsoft® Teams, MS Teams Direct Routing, GCC High Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft® 365, Cisco® Webex Calling / UCM, Cisco® CCP, Zoom Phone, Zoom (BYOB), and a range of contact centre options, including Five9 for business customers.

For more information about CallTower and its award-winning services, please contact marketing@calltower.com

About Tollring www.Tollring.com

Tollring is a market leading software developer providing data visualisation and business intelligence tools that help manage, understand, and control a wide array of communications information, resources and assets.   

With offices in the UK, the USA, India, and Australia, Tollring specialises in global cloud communication software services, encompassing customer experience analytics, call recording and business intelligence solutions. Its innovative solutions are developed in-house and distributed via an extensive channel partner network to over 20,000 businesses globally.   

As organisations increasingly rely on Microsoft Teams for their internal and external communications, Tollring delivers the benefits of deep insight into this environment. Whether the challenge is wellbeing, performance, or customer experience, Analytics 365 makes it easy for leaders across all business functions to drive improvements in customer and employee experience. 

Tollring takes pride its high levels of technical capability and strives to deliver outstanding support having been certified in quality standard ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 27001 for Information Security Management. It is a Microsoft Gold Partner in application integration, data analytics, application development, cloud platforms and a Silver Partner in project and portfolio management. 

Two international bits of infrastructure news, and two FTTH builds of domestic interest: … [visit site to read more]

Rijeka Gateway has announced a 5G standalone (SA) connectivity partnership with Croatian telecommunications company Hrvatski Telekom (HT), involving the adoption of what is described as a next-level private 5G campus network.

Rijeka Gateway is a port operating company which operates port facilities at the largest Croatian Port of Rijeka. A joint venture between APM Terminals and ENNA Group, it is a completely new, ground-up development, with no legacy LTE network. This, the company claims, will allow the terminal to become HT’s first installation to use SA architecture.

Rijeka Gateway, due to begin operations in 2025, will use the HT public mobile network for its predominantly remotely operated electric equipment. It says that electric container handling equipment will reduce environmental impact to the minimum and mitigate noise and pollution for the local community. 

Peter Corfitsen, CEO of Rijeka Gateway, explains: « The terminal in Rijeka will be the only terminal in this part of Europe with remotely operated cranes. Almost all equipment will be electric, and we are installing very advanced energy optimisation and overall terminal management systems. Quality and reliable communication infrastructure is a prerequisite for such operations, » he adds.

With a 50-year concession, Rijeka Gateway will serve as the main entry point for container traffic to the hinterland countries and markets of Europe and will play a crucial role in the development of the local economy.

In addition, Adriatic ports, like Rijeka, which is situated on the Kvarner Gulf, have become more prominent given they provide the shortest maritime link between Europe and the Middle and Far East. 

News 

The new tech is set to enhance the safety of the bank’s digital customers in over 25 countries 

BBVA, the multinational Spanish bank, has entered into a strategic alliance with Telefónica Tech to bolster its global cybersecurity efforts. The partnership is expected to use advanced AI and process automation technologies to prevent cyber threats across BBVA’s global operations. 

Telefónica Tech will provide nearly 50 services for BBVA, “ranging from solutions for the proactive anticipation of threats, definition of operational tactics, strategies to strengthen BBVA’s resilience or protection for Data Processing Centres (DPCs)”.  

As part of the collaboration, a new specialised cybersecurity centre will be established in Mexico, which will be designed to function alongside BBVA’s existing Global Cybersecurity Centre in Spain. Together, the two hubs will be staffed by 200 Telefónica Tech employees, making them two of the ‘largest cybersecurity centres in the financial industry.”  

Beyond the staff located at the sites themselves, the two hubs will also be supported by 1,500 cybersecurity experts and ten secure operation centres across Europe and the Americas, serving to monitor BBVA’s security 24/7. 

“These two hubs specialising in cybersecurity are unique in the financial industry and represent a new step towards protecting our infrastructures with the latest technological advances. Our goal is to be a bank that is increasingly secure and prepared to respond to all types of attacks and to offer the best service to our customers with the best security guarantees in the market,” said Sergio Fidalgo, BBVA’s Global Chief Information Security Officer in a press release. 

Keep up to date with the latest international telecoms news by subscribing to the Total Telecom daily newsletter 

Also in the news: 

One new NOC and a bunch of vender wins from around the world. … [visit site to read more]