Omantel and Telkomsel sign up for GSMA Blockchain trials for optimized roaming operations

The GSMA announced wholesale roaming trials for its next-generation telecommunications blockchain network – the GSMA eBusiness Network – to demonstrate the benefits of blockchain technology to mobile network operators (MNOs). Blockchain pioneers and roaming partners Omantel and Telkomsel have already signed up to the GSMA eBusiness Network Accelerator program to monitor inter-operator roaming processes, support roaming agreement negotiations and accelerate billing and settlement. The trials will go live in June 2023.

Blockchain technology securely automates the complex business processes of wholesale roaming, ensuring that the interaction between MNOs is accurate, transparent and verified in the shortest possible time. Omantel and Telkomsel expect several benefits from using blockchain, including operational efficiency through reduced manual intervention, greater accuracy in charging, reduced billing disputes and rejections, and faster time to market for roaming products and offers.

Talal Al Mamari, CEO, Omantel, said: “We want to lead the pack with the implementation of this revolutionary blockchain solution, which will not only further automate our systems, but also help us optimize costs and become more efficient by reducing margins on errors. In addition to the operational benefits we expect to achieve, we see an improvement in customer experience through fewer invoice disputes and improved roaming services and products. It will also allow us to work with more operators to exchange data over blockchain, thus enable future technology developments such as 5G Standalone Roaming and Billing and Charging Evolution. Such initiatives reflect our commitment to enrich the experience of our customers to complement our broad international roaming footprint across 200 countries with more than 700 partners.”

“As Indonesia’s leading digital telco, Telkomsel consistently reaches out to unlock more potential for the country’s progress. During MWC23 in Barcelona, ​​Telkomsel joined the GSMA eBusiness Network Accelerator program with the hope of opening opportunities for further implementation of blockchain network technology in Indonesia. By conducting a joint study and exploring blockchain technology, we can optimize our wholesale roaming clearing and settlement processes in the future.As the first digital telco in Southeast Asia to join the initiative in 2023, Telkomsel will continue to evaluate the results of the blockchain technology trial and provide more inclusive and sustainable access to world-class connectivity in Indonesia, says Wong Soon Nam, Chief Planning & Transformation Officer, Telkomsel.

“Blockchain technology is ideally suited to streamline the wholesale roaming clearing and settlement process. It does this by enabling the automation of business processes that are becoming increasingly complex as we enter an era of connectivity defined by 5G and IoT, says Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. “We are asking our members to join the trials so they can realize the benefits of blockchain, together with their roaming partners, and lay the foundation for Web3, with fully automated contract management, settlement and payments.”

The roaming application services offered by the GSMA eBusiness Network ensure more transparent and secure roaming operations for MNOs. The applications are built on blockchain-based automated workflows, using smart contracts to create a single source of truth in roaming contract management, data cleansing and financial settlement.

Under the GSMA eBusiness Network Accelerator program, MNOs can benefit from guidance, services and training resources including the GSMA Node for easy access to the GSMA eBusiness Network; GSMA Negotiator, an online negotiation environment for roaming managers to anticipate, analyze, negotiate and digitally sign roaming agreements; and GSMA Settlement, an automated settlement environment designed to reduce disputes and speed up the wholesale roaming billing and charging process.

The GSMA eBusiness Network is a private-endorsed industry-wide blockchain solution, launched in 2021 to support a wide range of operator business requirements and transform the wholesale roaming clearing and settlement process. It was formed following collaborative research between the GSMA and CK Hutchison Group Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, Verizon and Vodafone who were the founding members of the Blockchain for Wholesale Roaming (BWR) initiative, convened by the GSMA.

GSMA’s Blockchain & Roaming Services are part of a suite of services designed to address critical industry challenges. In addition to blockchain and roaming services, GSMA members can also use device information services, eSIM services, fraud prevention and security services, and network and interconnection services.

For more information on the Accelerator trials and how to register, please visit www.gsma.com/services/streamlined-wholesale-roaming-is-here.

About Omantel
Omantel Wholesale is the international and domestic wholesale arm of Oman Telecommunications Company SAOG (Omantel), the first and leading provider of integrated telecommunications services in Oman. Founded in 1970, Omantel is a public limited company listed on the Muscat Securities Market and is 51% owned by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), a wholly owned investment arm of the Omani government. Omantel has investments in 20+ submarine cable systems globally. 5 unique landing stations for submarine cable in Oman and outbound connection of several land connections to neighboring countries. It is the first and only GCC company to land a submarine cable in Europe. Leveraging ultra-low latency networks to enable innovation and digital transformation globally, Omantel Wholesale leverages Oman’s geographical advantage at the absolute nexus of East, West, North and South to enable its customers and partners to deliver their services with the best possible end -User experience.

For more information, please visit www.omantel.om/Wholesale.

About Telkomsel
Telkomsel is a leading digital telecommunications company that continues to open up more opportunities and opportunities by enabling digital connectivity, digital platform and digital services developed by prioritizing the benefits of technology for all levels of society across the country. Telkomsel has consistently deployed 4G mobile broadband network and developed 5G network, as well as enriching innovative digital solutions, including mobile gaming, digital entertainment, digital lifestyle, mobile financial services, enterprise solutions and the Internet of Things. During its 28 years, Telkomsel has today served more than 151 million customers across Indonesia supported by more than 258,900 BTS.

Get more information about us on our official channel at www.telkomsel.com, facebook.com/telkomsel, Twitter @telkomsel and Instagram @telkomsel as well as Telkomsel’s virtual assistant on the MyTelkomsel app.

About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unites the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation that is the foundation for positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. GSMA represents mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, delivering for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that makes mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to bring together the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com.