Infobip launches SIM-based Number Verification for telecom operators
Infobip has launched a SIM-based Number Verification solution aimed at helping mobile network operators (MNOs) monetise their SIM and network infrastructure as an authentication layer for enterprise customers. The product, announced from Dubai on 26 August 2026, allows operators to offer silent, cryptographic authentication to enterprises via a single Network API integration, removing the need for one-time passwords (OTP) or manual code entry.
The mechanism treats the SIM as a trust anchor. When a user authenticates, the mobile network cryptographically confirms that the phone number matches the SIM in the device, covering both cellular and Wi-Fi environments. Infobip positions the layer between MNOs and enterprises through its aggregation platform, handling operator onboarding and enterprise connectivity so that neither side has to negotiate bilateral agreements at scale.
Matija Ražem, Chief Commercial Telecom Officer at Infobip, said: "Operators already own one of the most trusted assets in digital identity, the SIM and the network authentication process. Our role is to help operators commercialise that capability faster while giving enterprises a scalable path toward more secure and seamless authentication."
Leonardo Silva, Head of B2B Messaging and Open Gateway at Vivo, added that authentication is increasingly part of the broader customer experience rather than a purely security function, and that removing OTP friction while retaining SIM-level trust creates commercial as well as security benefits.
Market context
The launch sits at the intersection of two maturing trends: the long-anticipated decline of SMS OTP and the emergence of operator-grade Network APIs as a commercial product category. SMS OTP has faced sustained criticism for its vulnerability to SIM-swap attacks, smishing and SS7-based interception, and regulators in several markets have begun issuing guidance against relying on it as a sole authentication factor.
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative, which standardises Network APIs across operators, has provided the technical scaffolding for this class of product. Infobip is one of several CPaaS aggregators, alongside Vonage (now part of Ericsson), Twilio and a range of regional players, competing to sit between operators and enterprise buyers as the go-to connectivity layer. The Network API monetisation race is attracting significant operator interest because traditional messaging revenue is under pressure from over-the-top messaging apps, making authentication a structurally appealing adjacent stream.
Vivo's involvement is notable as a named operator endorsement. The Brazilian MNO is part of the Telefónica group, which has been among the more active operators in GSMA Open Gateway commercial pilots.
Regulatory and standards read-across
SIM-based Number Verification falls within the scope of consent and data-protection obligations across key markets. In the EU, use of network-level authentication data implicates the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR; enterprises deploying the solution in European markets will need to satisfy lawful-basis requirements for processing network-derived identity signals. The EU's forthcoming eIDAS 2.0 framework, which mandates interoperable digital-identity wallets for member states, may also affect how operator-issued identity assertions are positioned relative to government-backed credentials.
In the UK, Ofcom has been monitoring authentication fraud and SIM-swap incidents, and the Payment Systems Regulator has pushed for stronger customer verification in high-value transaction flows, both creating regulatory tailwinds for stronger, network-native authentication.
Infobip currently claims direct connections to more than 800 operators globally and was named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CPaaS for the fourth consecutive year in May 2026. The company has not disclosed pricing for the new solution, nor named additional operator partners beyond Vivo at launch.