CelcomDigi enables safer one-tap phone number verification via Google Firebase
CelcomDigi has announced a strategic collaboration with Google Firebase and Telenor Linx to enable safer, one-tap digital onboarding for Malaysians through secure API-as-a-Service capabilities. With this initiative, CelcomDigi becomes the first telco in Malaysia to offer network-based phone number verification services via Google’s Firebase platform, allowing developers to build apps that can verify users’ mobile numbers instantly without relying on SMS one-time passwords (OTPs).
Instead of entering an OTP sent via SMS, users can now verify their phone numbers automatically in the background when signing up for services such as banking, e-commerce or ride-hailing apps. The verification happens through a secure connection between the app and the mobile network, reducing friction and lowering the risk of scams, phishing and OTP interception.
According to CelcomDigi, replacing SMS-based OTPs with API-led verification improves security by anchoring authentication on telco-grade network intelligence, while also offering better reliability and scalability through cloud-native infrastructure.
The collaboration is part of CelcomDigi’s broader push to expand its API-as-a-Service (APIaaS) offerings, making trusted telco capabilities easier for businesses and developers to integrate into their digital platforms. Through these secure APIs, enterprises can enable faster and more seamless onboarding with one-tap verification while reducing reliance on SMS OTPs and associated costs. It will also help to mitigate fraud risks such as phishing, SIM-based attacks and artificial traffic while improving user trust, engagement and conversion rates.
“We are applying network intelligence to improve how people experience digital services. By offering APIaaS, we enable enterprises and developers to integrate secure, network-led phone number verification into their applications, making digital onboarding simpler, safer and more reliable for end users.
This reflects CelcomDigi’s commitment to continue playing a key role in enabling a more secure and trusted digital economy for the nation,” – T. Kugan, CelcomDigi Chief Innovation Officer
CelcomDigi says the initiative builds on its ongoing efforts to grow its API ecosystem through partnerships with folks such as Aduna, Bridge Alliance and PayNet, supporting use cases like digital onboarding, fraud mitigation and cross-border digital services.
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