Consumers in today’s digital society value a safe online environment. Dutch telecom providers therefore collaborate within the COIN partnership to improve consumers’ digital security.
Together, they are committed to combating online fraud and introducing services that offer consumers better protection against digital misuse. This collaboration has led to the development of CAMARA, an innovative and standardized solution.
The CAMARA solutions offered by Dutch telecom providers provide a secure and simple way to verify users’ identities when logging in or conducting transactions via mobile phones. This helps organizations such as banks and e-commerce platforms fight fraud and offers end users more secure access to digital services.
What is CAMARA?
CAMARA is an international standard for telecom APIs that significantly simplifies the use of telecom providers’ network functions.
It offers the following benefits:
• Simple and secure access to telecom services
• Faster development of innovative applications
• Uniform and standardized access to network functionalities worldwide
• Part of the GSMA Open Gateway program, with more than 79 participating telecom providers
• An open-source project managed by the Linux Foundation
Examples of CAMARA applications can be found on the GSMA website.
More information about CAMARA specifications can be found on the CAMARA project website.
The CAMARA solutions
At present, three CAMARA solutions are available on the Dutch market: Number Verification, SIM Swap, and KYC Match. Each solution contributes in a unique way to the security of online services. Service providers can implement these solutions individually or in combination, depending on their needs. Specific privacy conditions apply to the use of these services.
Number Verification
Number Verification enables service providers to verify whether an end user actually has access to the mobile phone number they have provided. This verification takes place directly on the user’s mobile device, ensuring a secure, fast, and user-friendly way to confirm the user’s identity.
Number Verification can be used as an additional layer of security during login or for verifying online transactions. It also offers a user-friendly alternative to the traditional one-time SMS code and is more resistant to phishing and social engineering attacks.
SIM Swap
SIM Swap enables service providers to check whether a mobile phone number has recently been transferred to a different SIM card. This verification helps prevent identity fraud resulting from SIM swapping. By using SIM Swap, organizations can safely use mobile numbers for verification purposes.
KYC Match
Know Your Customer Match, or KYC Match, enables service providers to verify user information, such as name, address, and date of birth, against the data held by the telecom provider. This allows the user’s identity to be confirmed and helps effectively prevent fraud.
KYC Match is a privacy-friendly and user-friendly solution: users only need to provide the necessary information to the service provider, and the telecom provider shares only a yes/no response or a percentage score indicating whether the data matches. Based on this “Match” result, the service provider can decide whether additional identification is required.
Telco Finder
A key element of the CAMARA ecosystem is the Telco Finder, in The Netherlands the COIN Discovery Service. This service guides a service provider to the mobile operator associated with a specific mobile phone number, enabling that operator to process the API request. The COIN Discovery Service is an integral part of the CAMARA services in the Netherlands.
A privacy- and user-friendly solution
CAMARA is a privacy- and user-friendly solution in which users always retain control over their personal data and with whom it is shared. In addition, CAMARA employs technical measures to ensure user privacy. Personal data is encrypted and shared only when strictly necessary, and prior consent is requested where required.
More information?
For more information you can contact the participating operators: KPN, Odido and Vodafone.
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