As digital fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, businesses need more than identity verification to secure online transactions. They also need contextual intelligence—such as confirming whether a user’s mobile device is in the expected location—to detect suspicious activity before fraud occurs.
Addressing this growing need, PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of PLDT Inc., announced that Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has secured GSMA Open Gateway certification for its SmartSafe RoamStatus API, marking another milestone in delivering globally recognized, network-powered security solutions for Philippine enterprises.
The certification for the Device Roaming Status API builds on Smart’s earlier achievement as the first Philippine telecommunications provider to receive GSMA Open Gateway certification for Number Verification APIs, which paved the way for the launch of SmartSafe SilentAccess in November 2025—the country’s first network-powered silent authentication solution.
“Since launching our globally certified SmartSafe APIs and toolkits, we’ve worked closely with enterprise customers to prioritize the security capabilities that matter most to them,” said Nico V. Alcoseba, First Vice President and Head of Product Management and Innovations at PLDT Enterprise.
“Expanding our portfolio with SmartSafe RoamStatus reinforces the commitment we made when we introduced SilentAccess—to deliver advanced security solutions that strengthen digital trust while providing a seamless customer experience.”
Smarter authentication through network intelligence
SmartSafe RoamStatus enables businesses to instantly determine whether a customer’s mobile phone is currently roaming internationally or connected to a local network. Rather than tracking a user’s location or collecting sensitive geographic data, the API simply provides a secure yes-or-no response indicating whether the device is roaming.
This additional layer of network intelligence helps organizations identify unusual login attempts or transactions without requiring any action from the customer or compromising personal privacy.
For example, if a high-value banking transaction originates locally while the associated mobile device is simultaneously detected as roaming overseas, financial institutions can automatically trigger additional verification steps before approving the transaction.
The capability is particularly valuable for banks, e-commerce platforms, fintech companies, and digital service providers looking to strengthen fraud prevention while maintaining a frictionless customer experience.
Powered by real-time mobile network signals, SmartSafe RoamStatus delivers contextual authentication that enhances security while ensuring subscriber awareness, consent, and responsible use of network information.
Certified to global standards
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative, developed in collaboration with the CAMARA open-source project under the Linux Foundation, establishes globally standardized, interoperable, and secure network APIs that can be deployed across multiple operators and markets.
By successfully completing the certification process, Smart demonstrated full compliance with Open Gateway technical specifications and CAMARA security standards, further strengthening its position as a trusted provider of secure network capabilities.
“Smart’s certification is a strong signal of the Philippines’ leadership in advancing Open Gateway API adoption and unlocking the power of mobile networks to drive innovation across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at GSMA.
“Certified APIs are essential to building trust and enabling interoperability across operators, allowing digital services to scale through standardized, secure, and consistent network capabilities.”
The GSMA certification program ensures that participating mobile operators deploy APIs that meet common global standards, enabling developers and enterprises to integrate trusted network capabilities more efficiently while expanding services across borders.
Today, more than 300 mobile networks, representing over 80% of global mobile connections, are aligned with the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, creating a rapidly growing ecosystem of mobile operators, developers, technology partners, and system integrators built around a unified API framework.
Expanding the SmartSafe security ecosystem
Following the launch of RoamStatus and SilentAccess, PLDT Enterprise plans to further expand the SmartSafe portfolio with additional network-powered security services, including:
- SmartSafe NetIdentity – verifies SIM and device authenticity.
- SmartSafe GeoCheck – confirms real-time network location.
SmartSafe KYCPlus – strengthens identity verification using network intelligence.
Together, these innovations position SmartSafe as a comprehensive digital security platform that helps organizations combat fraud using trusted mobile network intelligence.
Securing the future of digital business
Built on Smart’s nationwide mobile network, SmartSafe solutions leverage real-time network signals that enterprises can rely on for critical security decisions.
The APIs form part of PLDT Enterprise’s integrated digital ecosystem, which combines fixed and wireless connectivity, cloud services, data centers, digital platforms, and international capabilities to help organizations accelerate innovation while safeguarding every digital interaction.
By continuously expanding its globally certified SmartSafe portfolio, PLDT Enterprise is reinforcing its commitment to building a more secure, trusted, and resilient digital economy for businesses in the Philippines and beyond.