Maxis Launches Mobile Identity Authentication Solution for Secure Verification in Malaysia

Malaysia’s leading telecommunications provider Maxis has unveiled its new Mobile Identity solution, providing secure and simplified authentication for mobile users through advanced telco verification APIs. The launch follows similar initiatives by telecom operators in France and other markets to strengthen digital identity verification through network-based authentication.

The solution’s Number Verify API authenticates mobile devices by confirming that the provided phone number matches the one used on the device, using real-time telco data. The system replaces traditional SMS-based one-time passwords and transaction authorization codes, enabling background verification of mobile numbers against active numbers without requiring users to leave their current platform. The shift away from SMS-based verification addresses growing concerns about SMS-related fraud schemes that have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years.

The system is particularly relevant for financial services and e-commerce platforms, offering enhanced security by reducing exposure to SMS verification-related fraud. The solution operates within the GSMA Open Gateway framework (CAMARA), ensuring universal access and simplified deployment across different countries and mobile networks. The framework, which has gained significant traction globally, standardizes API implementations across telecommunications providers to enable more seamless integration of identity verification services.

Maxis has established a partnership with Singtel for regional federation of telco APIs, enabling network-based authentication for mobile subscribers. The collaboration is part of the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) initiative, which has received endorsement from 13 major telecommunications companies across Asia. The partnership marks a significant step toward creating a unified digital identity infrastructure across Southeast Asia’s fragmented telecommunications landscape.

The Mobile Identity solution was demonstrated at Smart Nation Expo 2024 in the presence of Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. Following this showcase, Maxis Business is pursuing engagement with financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, and application developers to expand adoption of these API solutions. The initiative supports Malaysia’s broader digital transformation agenda and efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures in the financial sector.

The launch comes at a time when telecom operators worldwide are increasingly collaborating to develop standardized API solutions for identity verification, marking a shift away from traditional authentication methods toward more secure, network-based verification systems.

Sources: Startuprise, Lowyat, TelecomTalk

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January 06, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team