Insights

What’s Next for Numbers: A Data-Driven Journey into the Future of Telecom

Nov 07, 2023

At the 2023 Somos Summit, leading telecom industry experts dove headfirst into the uncharted territory of telephone number data during the session, From Numbers to Knowledge: Unlocking the Potential of Telephone Number Data. Specifically, this session shed light on the untapped potential of telephone number data and revealed how – when properly harnessed – this data can provide latent possibility and tremendous value. 

Moderated by Lloyd Tjom, Vice President of Sales, North America at XConnect, A Somos Company, the panel featured a distinguished pantheon of global telecom leaders, including:

• Eli Katz, Founder and CEO of XConnect
• Fenton Bard, Vice President of Global Sales at XConnect
• Mark Harvey, President and CEO of Sekura Mobile

From network porting to subscriber activity to SIM swaps, the discussion wasted no time getting straight to the point – telephone numbers offer immense information and insight. And when the potential of this data is fully realized? Service providers, carriers and operators alike can all empower themselves to make more informed decisions, enhance security and, most importantly, increase trust. 

Mark Harvey started the conversation by providing attendees with a high-level introduction to Sekura Mobile and how their services are pivotal to keeping telecom safe and secure. Founded in 2019, Sekura Mobile is a global provider of direct mobile operator data and solutions for ID verification, anti-fraud and secure online authentication use cases. With connections to 75 operators worldwide – serving a staggering 2.5 billion users! – they leverage real-time network data to thwart SIM swaps and verify mobile phone numbers. 

Next, Lloyd Tjom underlined how the comprehensive services offered by XConnect support number verification and trust in telecom.  XConnect manages a global number range database that furnishes valuable insight into a phone number’s status, availability and porting information. Why is this noteworthy? Because this data provides a serious game-changer with the potential to save money and maximize capital! 

The panel next delved into how Sekura Mobile and XConnect are working in tandem to help combat telecom fraud. Specifically, they expounded upon how they jointly utilize network and subscriber information to verify the authenticity and status of phone numbers. This is significant as it enables the digital economy to thrive, all while protecting consumers and organizations from fraud. More importantly, their collaborative efforts help support a secure real-time data-enabled ecosystem.  

Expanding on security in the digital world, Eli Katz next emphasized the pivotal role that digital identity plays in building security, reliability and authenticity. In particular, he discussed the need to establish a framework for trustworthy caller identification as well as the resources necessary to accomplish this. From global STIR/SHAKEN implementation to branded calling solutions to enhanced caller ID validation, Eli noted how secure data management services are integral to ensuring subscriber safety.  

As technology continues to advance at breakneck speed, harnessing telephone number data becomes central to creating more secure, trustworthy and seamless communication experiences. At the 2023 Somos Summit, the panelists for From Numbers to Knowledge: Unlocking the Potential of Telephone Number Data stressed the importance of collaboration within the telecom industry, focusing on services that combat fraud and instill trust in consumers and businesses. And with the incredible opportunities that telephone number data provides, the potential to revolutionize the telecom industry is truly within reach! 

To learn more about the 2023 Somos Summit and to gain access to on-demand recordings, visit www.somos.com/summit.