CelcomDigi has partnered with network-based authentication provider IPification to bring mobile number verification through its trusted network APIs, making this partnership a first in Malaysia; this is aimed to help social media platforms verify users more securely to combat fake accounts, identity fraud, and account takeovers by replacing SMS OTPs with a more secure alternative.
CelcomDigi And IPification Collaborate To Supersede Unsecure SMS OTPs
The collaboration brings together CelcomDigi’s mobile network intelligence and IPification’s authentication technology to create a more secure method of confirming that a mobile number is genuinely associated with its legitimate user. Unlike traditional SMS One-Time Passwords (OTP), which remain vulnerable to SIM swap attacks and interception, the partnership leverages trusted network signals to deliver a stronger layer of identity assurance.
Social media and digital platforms can integrate CelcomDigi’s network-based verification APIs via IPification’s service layer, accessible through CelcomDigi’s API-as-a-Service offering. The solution can be applied at key points in the user journey, including account registration, login, and account recovery workflows. The practical use cases for this include smoother account onboarding, protection against fake and duplicate accounts, stronger defenses against account takeovers and identity fraud, and improved trust signals for AI-powered moderation and fraud detection systems.
This initiative also extends CelcomDigi’s existing trusted network API portfolio, which already includes phone number verification services available through Google’s Firebase. The Malaysian telco currently serves more than 20.4 million users across its network and has been scaling its API-as-a-Service business as a key pillar of its strategy to extend the value of its telecommunications infrastructure beyond traditional connectivity.
Pokdepinion: Replacing SMS OTPs is long overdue, so it is good to see a local telco actually doing something about it.
