French Mobile Industry Accelerates Network API Deployment via GSMA Open Gateway Initiative
The French mobile telecommunications landscape is experiencing significant changes as major operators collaborate under the global GSMA Open Gateway initiative. Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange, and SFR, the four largest mobile carriers in France, are joining forces to provide essential services through the deployment of two network APIs designed to help online businesses combat fraud and safeguard customers' digital identities.
The newly introduced application programming interfaces (APIs) – KYC Match and SIM Swap – are aligned with the CAMARA standard, which aims to harmonize API specifications across mobile operators. Notably, France has become the first country globally to launch the KYC Match API, enhancing the online identity verification process for businesses onboarding new clients. This initiative comes at a crucial time as, following the COVID-19 pandemic, online transactions in France surged by 37%, totaling €2.35 billion in 2023, with 77% conducted via mobile devices.
Alarmingly, 80% of French enterprises report having faced attempted online fraud, and nearly half (45%) state that such fraudulent activities have escalated in the past year. The Ministry of the Interior noted a staggering 40% increase in digital identity theft cases over the past four years, making the introduction of these new APIs even more vital. They will add a robust layer of security, effectively defending against digital fraudsters targeting mobile users’ identities.
Developed and rigorously tested within the French market, these APIs have already attracted interest from various financial institutions. Organizations like BforBank, which operates under Crédit Agricole, and Fortuneo, a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, are implementing the KYC Match API for customer onboarding processes in partnership with DQE Software. Currently, over 20 companies across France are utilizing these telecom operators' APIs to mitigate risks related to account takeover fraud while verifying client identities during transactions and onboarding.
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative seeks to unite operators worldwide and facilitates the development of digital products that can seamlessly function across all devices, irrespective of the country or operator involved. Since its introduction, the initiative has seen participation from 67 mobile network groups, accounting for a total of 278 different networks, covering three-quarters of global mobile connections. Moreover, it has attracted 26 distribution partners, showcasing its extensive reach and potential impact.
As the landscape of digital transactions continues to evolve, the collaborative efforts of these French mobile operators set a precedent for how the telecommunications industry can tackle emerging challenges related to fraud and identity verification. This initiative could also inspire similar collaborations worldwide, reinforcing the importance of cross-operator solutions in protecting the digital identities of consumers and businesses alike.