China Telecom and Ericsson have launched the China Telecom IoT Open Platform – a global connection management platform that will support China’s “One Belt One Road” strategy and accelerate the deployment of IoT solutions and services. The China Telecom IoT Open Platform enables enterprises to deploy, control, and scale the management of IoT devices through partnerships.

Juniper Research has released a new study that predicts an 11 percent decline in operator revenues from international mobile roaming due in large part to new “Roam Like Home” packages that enable subscribers to use services abroad without incurring additional charges, as operators introduce them in key markets including Europe, North America, and Asia.

Security Update

From robocalls to cybersecurity, privacy and fraud remain major issues for consumers and regulators alike.

Revenue assurance and fraud management solutions provider WeDo Technologies has released a new survey that reveals CSPs consider mobile IP networks and the IoT as the biggest fraud and security challenges they will face in the coming year.

U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers voted to approve a provision that would bar the Pentagon from doing business with telecommunications firms knowingly supporting North Korean cyberattacks. The amendment, offered by Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.), was approved by the full House to be included in an annual defense policy bill. 

A number of news outlets reported a potential hacking threat to Apple's iPhone after Fox Business Network first reported that Apple has warned iPhone users to update their phones and computers with a new security patch. The company is urging users to install the updates to protect their devices, saying that the latest cyber threat is also a risk to Android device users. Google has taken steps as well to block the virus, issuing a similar security patch earlier this month.

The Federal Communications Commission remained busy throughout the month, starting by issuing a $2.88 million fine against a New Mexico-based company, Dialing Services, for facilitating unlawful robocalls. Robocallers used Dialing Services’ calling technology platform to make millions of illegal robocalls to mobile phones without express prior consent from consumers. 

In its latest step to combat annoying and malicious robocalls, the FCC is seeking a reliable call authentication system, asking for industry comment on the SHAKEN Call Authentication Framework developed by the SIP Forum and ATIS. The framework sets forth a comprehensive methodology for validating phone calls and mitigating caller ID spoofing and fraudulent robocalling.

The FCC also took action to address the issue of robocalls to reassigned phone numbers in order to reduce unwanted robocalls that consumers receive, and to provide clarity for responsible callers. The Commission is seeking public comment on the idea of creating a comprehensive resource of reassigned numbers that businesses and other robocallers, such as schools, can use to avoid accidentally calling numbers that are no longer used by consumers who gave their consent to receive these calls. 

Data to audio conversion tech start-up LISNR is partnering with Ticketmaster to provide the global event ticketing company with its new mobile authentication solution, which uses sound to transmit data in a secure, seamless way that verifies tickets and minimizes ticketing fraud. LISNR’s Smart Tone technology is quickly becoming the new global standard for mobile authentication, having already implemented sound technology for companies like Jaguar, Land Rover, and now Ticketmaster.

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