The heightened awareness of fraud in all its ugly forms has proven a boon for software developers. iconectiv this month announced the launch of its new anti-fraud technology designed to help telecom operators and mobile network operators (MNOs) combat A2P SMS termination via grey routes, SMS spam, and interconnect bypass fraud on MNO networks that cost the industry almost $10 billion annually.

BICS, a global wholesale carrier for voice, mobile data and capacity services, announced its global crowdsourcing-based fraud prevention platform, FraudGuard, has been deployed by Switzerland’s leading telecoms company, Swisscom. FraudGuard will help Swisscom secure its revenue streams and prevent fraud on its network. FraudGuard enables wireless operators, such as Swisscom, to proactively shield themselves and their customers from criminal activity, including international revenue share fraud, PBX hacking, and Wangiri. 

Around the world: what’s new in networks and services

This month Nokia and Telefonica Germany announced that Nokia will simplify and centralize Telefonica Germany's mobile access core and fixed network operations as well as back office tasks including network monitoring and preventative maintenance. The two companies have signed a contract under which Nokia will become supplier of managed services for Telefonica Germany for its fixed and mobile network operations, driving increased quality and efficiency in the process. 

Global cloud communications provider and MVNE Plintron this month launched a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Macedonia, expanding its mobile platform reach in the region after launching MVNOs in 22 countries. 

On the other side of the globe, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN) announced it is launching a new MVNO service in collaboration with China Mobile Hong Kong and SmarTone. Following its recent licensing to offer MVNO services, HKBN is planning a full launch of its all-new mobile services in September.

In Maynmar, Nokia and Myanmar telco Ooredoo announced a complete nationwide network upgrade enabling Ooredoo to launch 4G services in major cities throughout the Asian country. To ensure seamless network operations, the companies have also extended their existing managed services agreement to incorporate the 4G network.

AT&T has signed an agreement with Cuban telco Empresa De Telecommunicationes De Cuba (ETECSA) to handle roaming and direct interconnection calls for the island nation. According to the agreement, AT&T customers soon will be able to seamlessly connect with talk, text and data while visiting Cuba.

The recent opening of the Cuban market is just one in a series of Latin American telecom news events. A new Frost & Sullivan report in August predicts strong growth for Latin American carriers from data services through mobile broadband M2M and value-added services.

The expansion of 3G and 4G network coverage, improving quality of service, proliferation of smart devices, and migration of prepaid customers to hybrid plans are fueling opportunities for mobile service providers in Latin America. Carriers are striving to increase revenue by attracting more customers to postpaid plans in a market where prepaid plans account for over 74 percent of the 547 million lines in service.

Ericsson and Cisco announced they will be supplying and installing IP networks for C&W Communications in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Barbados markets to improve the customer experience and help implement digital transformation. The plans include an upgrade to the IP backbone network in the Bahamas to improve performance and support an increase of traffic, and a new business-to-business IP/MPLS network in Jamaica and Barbados.

I-New Unified Mobile Solutions launched Mexican MVNO MAZ TIEMPO in August after recently unveiling its first Latin American MVNE platform in Mexico. MAZ TIEMPO is the first MVNO active on the Mexican market since 2014.