HP today announced that Optimus, a leading mobile operator in Portugal, has selected the HP Fraud Management Solution (HP FMS) to combat traditional voice-based fraud, as well as new forms of fraud that are emerging with the arrival of converged voice and data services.
The HP FMS will also be used by Novis, Optimus’ sister company that delivers fixed-line services in Portugal.
Optimus provides more than 2.1 million subscribers, about 20 percent of the Portugal market, with a full range of GPRS-based mobile services. In June 2004, Optimus began providing higher speed 3G mobile services based on the UMTS standard.
Network and service providers continue to scrutinise operating costs and pay increased attention to telecom fraud. As perpetrators infiltrate networks and steal services, fraud losses worldwide are estimated to be between $35 billion and $40 billion USD.(1) In response, Optimus is deploying HP FMS Version 9 to detect fraud more quickly and to reduce the revenue losses associated with it.
Designed to combat these losses, the highly scalable HP FMS is able to monitor every single call and data exchange, allowing operators to catch fraud while it occurs. It also enables operators to detect unbilled calls, which represent uncollected revenue. Additionally, HP FMS can help reduce operational costs in internal fraud management organisations.
“HP presented us with the most comprehensive and widely deployed fraud management solutions in the world,” said Artur Loureiro, chief information officer, Optimus. “In addition, we found the quick implementation time as well as the reduced risk and cost-effectiveness with which HP FMS can be deployed to be very compelling.”
HP FMS also allows Optimus and other carriers to address the new opportunities for fraud that have arisen with the convergence of voice and data services. New content-rich communications services that involve data are potentially lucrative sources of revenue, but they also present significant fraud risks for operators, particularly when valuable content is integrated into the service from a third-party content provider. HP FMS enables Optimus to offer these services without incurring the substantial profitability risks and liabilities related to stolen content and value-added services.
“HP was the right partner for Optimus because of its knowledge of the fraud business – and the key features in its solution, especially the flexibility and the ability to detect fraud in data services,” said José Carlos Sobreira Martins, director, Fraud Management, Optimus.
HP provides fraud protection for more than 250 million subscribers with nearly 70 service providers in 34 countries as well as for numerous large, multinational telecommunications enterprises around the world. Optimus will deploy the solution to more than 2 million subscribers this year.
“With the advent of data services – and the inevitable new forms of fraud – the stakes have become significantly higher for service providers,” said Marco Limena, vice president, Network and Service Provider Solutions, HP. “They need a trusted partner that understands global fraud in all its forms. HP has more than 12 years experience in this area, and our FMS solution is a mature product that continues to evolve to ensure that our customers are staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraudsters.”
(1) Source: CFCA (Communications Fraud Control Association), March 2003.