French Telecom Operators Launch Unified APIs to Combat Online Fraud

French telecom operators Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange, and SFR have collaborated to launch a unified set of Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) designed to combat online fraud and protect digital identities. The effort is part of the global GSMA Open Gateway initiative, which aims to standardize and accelerate network API deployment across mobile networks worldwide.

The operators are introducing two network APIs: KYC Match and SIM Swap, developed to the new CAMARA standard to ensure consistent specifications across operators. The KYC Match API enhances identity verification processes for new customers by allowing businesses to cross-check customer-provided information with verified records maintained by the user’s mobile network operator as part of their Know Your Customer (KYC) process. The SIM Swap API helps prevent unauthorized SIM card changes, a growing concern in mobile fraud cases where criminals attempt to intercept authentication codes and gain unauthorized access to accounts.

The APIs have been developed and rigorously tested in the French market with several financial institutions, including BforBank and Fortuneo, which use KYC Match to screen new customers in partnership with DQE Software. Over twenty companies in France are already using these telco APIs to help prevent account takeover fraud and check customer identities during transaction and onboarding processes.

“Orange France is proud to join the GSMA Open Gateway initiative with the other French mobile operators,” said Laetitia Orsini, EVP Consumer Business at Orange France. “We believe that joining forces to develop APIs to a common standard, Camara, will revolutionize the way that developers use network capabilities and services by making them quicker and easier to access. Our Identity APIs have already been deployed by numerous banks and financial service providers in France to help fight fraud. We are convinced that Open Gateway and Camara will allow us to scale our existing business and build new use-cases around Network-based APIs.”

The French operators plan to introduce a third API, Number Verification, which will allow businesses to verify customers’ mobile numbers. This API is already offered by some operators and is expected to be commercially launched in the first half of 2025.

The GSMA Open Gateway initiative has attracted 67 mobile network groups, representing a total of 278 networks and three-quarters of the world’s mobile connections, along with 26 channel partners. This initiative aims to create a unified approach to security across mobile networks worldwide, making it easier to keep people safe from the growing threat of fraud.

Source: TelecomTalk

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December 5, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy