In our digital world, almost everything is accessible with a few clicks. Whether you’re shopping online, making payments, or logging into your favorite online services, an OTP (One Time Password) requested via SMS is often the key to completing your transaction. However, the adoption of flash calls for authentication has rapidly become the preferred choice for enterprises, posing challenges for telecom operators in the industry.
What is a Flash Call?
Flash calling is a seamless authentication method that verifies identity without requiring any specific action from the end-user. When a user starts a two-factor authentication (2FA) process, a activation code is delivered by a flash call. Unlike traditional methods that require manually inputting a code or responding to a prompt, a flash call is automatically initiated to the user’s phone.
How Does Flash Calling Work?
When a phone application initiates the authentication process, it enters a state of ‘monitoring’, awaiting a call. The incoming voice call has a specific Caller Line Identification (CLI), where the last 4-6 digits serve as the required activation code. Typically, the code is acknowledged, and the call is seen as a missed call in the device, requiring no manual intervention.
This method is more user-friendly and cost-effective than other authentication methods. As the market sees widespread A2P SMS price increases, flash calls offer a budget-friendly alternative for enterprises and service providers.
Impact of Flash Calls on MNOs
While flash calls benefit businesses and users, it is a source of worry for all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). Flash calls utilize their infrastructure but, unlike SMS or calls, do not generate revenue. This shift is significant, as Juniper Research predicts that telecom operators will lose $1.3 billion to undetected flash calls between 2023 and 2027.
How can MNOs Address Flash Calls?
To monetize flash call traffic, MNOs need to act swiftly. They can either:
- Block flash calls altogether
- Embrace them as a revenue stream
To manage flash calls in real-time, introducing voice firewalls is crucial. These not only detect flash call traffic but also prevent fraudulent activities like robocalling and grey routing of A2P SMS traffic. Firewalls safeguard the revenues and also protect the subscribers from other frauds, such as Wangiri.
Juniper Research predicts that over 90% of flash calling traffic will go undetected by network operators in 2023. However, this figure is expected to drop to 45% by 2026 due to the increasing implementation of firewall solutions.
Finding the Right Partner
Finding the right firewall solution provider is essential for MNOs looking to monetize flash calls and harness new revenue sources. This enables the identification and blocking of flash calling numbers within the network, while also safeguarding end-users from various frauds associated with them.
Gain control over the flash calls in your network and monetize them with Globe Teleservices’ next-gen firewall solution, Armour. Its AI/ML capabilities allow MNOs to monitor, analyze, identify such calls, protect their revenues and deliver superior customer experiences.