Are you ready to tackle new interconnect fraud schemes, such as OTT Bypass?
We know how to help you!

Over-the-top (OTT) players are currently a real headache for the telecom operators: OTT messaging competing with SMS, excessive pressure on bandwidth due to OTT data transactions.... But OTT providers are also changing the traditional interconnect scenarios.

Are you ready to tackle new interconnect fraud schemes, such as OTT Bypass?
We know how to help you!

Over-the-top (OTT) players are currently a real headache for the telecom operators: OTT messaging competing with SMS, excessive pressure on bandwidth due to OTT data transactions.... But OTT providers are also changing the traditional interconnect scenarios.

For instance, connecting a voice call (or an SMS) usually leads to the payment of a termination fee: the price paid by the calling operator to the called operator for terminating a call on its network.  As smartphone sales and OTT usage increases, a growing part of termination revenues are at risk: when a mobile user sends a Whatsapp message (instead of an SMS) or when he performs a 'Viber to Viber' call (instead of an international voice call), there is simply NO termination fee. And now OTT providers even enter the carrier landscape with only 1 goal... terminating regular voice calls on OTT applications and thus further reducing your interconnect revenues!

►►► Our experience in helping you fighting OTT bypass - Araxxe OTT Bypass Audits

Over a period of more than one year, we have delivered audits to especially detect OTT bypass and we gathered following insights:
Fraudsters are everywhere: we detected OTT bypass in all regions around the globe
We have detected OTT bypass in ALL Audits
Our sample shows an infection rate which is different from one region to other - see graph
Viber is risk #1

What about you? What are you doing to fight OTT Bypass?
We help you understanding the new threat of OTT bypass : we can quantify the potential revenue losses
Thanks to our extended knowledge and expertise, we use test campaigns especially designed to detect OTT bypass.
You take advantage of Araxxe its global test platform, including a large portfolio of routes and international telecom subscriptions amongst them OTT players
We operate -on your behalf- flexible test campaigns delivered in an industrialized way.
We team up with you to further integrate all your bypass detection solutions in order to create new synergies out of them.
You leverage Araxxe its unique expertise in both test campaign design and bypass fraud detection.

SMS vs OTT: has the match really started?

SMS is a $100+ billion business - Messaging is the biggest 'non voice' mobile service and it is growing. SMS accounts for almost half of the revenues generated by mobile messaging: it is a $100+ billion business for at least the next 3 years according to Portio Research. We now have 6.9 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide. The OTT messaging platforms, put all together, have a consolidated base of 2.3 billion users. WhatsApp, which is a massive success story, has “only” 450 million users!

SMS vs OTT: has the match really started?

SMS is a $100+ billion business - Messaging is the biggest 'non voice' mobile service and it is growing. SMS accounts for almost half of the revenues generated by mobile messaging: it is a $100+ billion business for at least the next 3 years according to Portio Research. We now have 6.9 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide. The OTT messaging platforms, put all together, have a consolidated base of 2.3 billion users. WhatsApp, which is a massive success story, has “only” 450 million users!

SMS termination revenues are high - When wholesale revenues derived from voice termination keep on decreasing, SMS termination revenues remain high: the average SMS termination rate in Europe is €2.8 cents per terminated SMS; up to €7 cents per SMS for international SMS in some countries.

But the SS7 network is not so safe anymore - When used solely by trusted members, this network used to be a safe area. Nowadays many new players have an easy access to SS7 (MVNO, Hub providers, SMS aggregators, HLR lookup service providers...) while fraudsters / hackers have found new ways to get access to this network.

Conclusion: SMS termination should now be carefully monitored to tackle fraud and revenue assurance issues.

Why Araxxe managed services can help you maximizing your SMS termination revenues?

We design specific test campaigns focusing on the detection of the main fraud schemes (e.g. SIM box, SMS faking, SMS spoofing...) and revenue assurance issues (e.g. unbilled incoming SMS, wholesale arbitrage...).
You take advantage of Araxxe global test platform in 160+ countries: our international network of robots and our large portfolio of international telecom subscriptions.
We operate -on your behalf- test campaigns delivered in an industrialized way.
We deliver actionable reports enabling to quickly fix revenue leakages.
You leverage Araxxe unique expertise in test campaign design, interconnect fraud detection and revenue assurance.

How do you effectively tackle bypass fraud today?

Bypass fraud is still a major concern for mobile operators worldwide. Far from having disappeared, fraudsters have developed new techniques to protect their 'business'. They have implemented tactical responses against the main detection methods: (a) Profiling analysis performed in Fraud Management System, (b) Tracking campaigns based on Test Call Generation.

How do you effectively tackle bypass fraud today?

Bypass fraud is still a major concern for mobile operators worldwide. Far from having disappeared, fraudsters have developed new techniques to protect their 'business'. They have implemented tactical responses against the main detection methods: (a) Profiling analysis performed in Fraud Management System, (b) Tracking campaigns based on Test Call Generation.

Are you aware that the traditional Profiling thresholds are now seriously challenged by fraudsters?

Fraudsters are able to simulate human behaviour by using the SIM server technology and the advanced features of last generation SIM boxes: automated data transactions, automated calls to the voicemail, incoming call redirection to a human operator... This additional noise generated on top of the fraudulent traffic makes the profiling a much more difficult task.
In some countries, fraudsters simply lend SIM cards to genuine subscribers and are able to mix fraudulent and legitimate traffic by sharing the usage of these lines. They also sometimes directly clone the SIM cards of genuine subscribers.

Do you know that some fraudsters are able to counter-detect and block your Tracking campaign?

Basic Tracking campaigns, mainly based on a high volume of test calls, are no more efficient as fraudsters can now manage 'black-lists' and block the traffic to the test numbers of the Tracking campaign. Test numbers are black listed on the basis of well-known indicators: number of call attempts during a specific timeframe, number of short connects during a specific timeframe...
Reversely, other fraudsters manage 'white lists': they implement routing policies enabling them to route traffic through a SIM box only if the called number has been previously white listed; otherwise the traffic is routed through white routes.

So have the fraudsters won this war?
Definitely, the answer is NO!

First, because the techniques / technologies used by fraudsters are well-known by fraud experts; so it is possible to act accordingly.
Second, many operators have already successfully implemented best practices, such as: combine the main detection methods, keep aware of new trends and be as flexible as fraudsters, always challenge your existing solution and map it against up-to-date risks.

Why Araxxe is the right partner to help you optimize your bypass detection process?

We design advanced test campaigns optimizing bypass detection performance while addressing the risk of counter-detection.
You take advantage of Araxxe global test platform, including a large portfolio of routes and international telecom subscriptions.
We operate flexible test campaigns delivered in an industrialized way and optimized on a daily basis by Araxxe fraud analysts.
We team with you to further integrate all your bypass detection solutions in order to create new synergies out of them.
You leverage Araxxe unique expertise in both test campaign design and bypass fraud detection.