Smart Communications has secured GSMA Open Gateway certification for SmartSafe RoamStatus, expanding the network-based fraud prevention tools offered to Philippine businesses through PLDT Enterprise.
The API allows an authorized company to check whether a customer’s mobile device is roaming. This additional context can help banks, online stores, and digital platforms recognize unusual logins or transactions and decide when further verification is necessary.
Smart is the wireless subsidiary of PLDT, while PLDT Enterprise serves as the group’s business-to-business unit.
Roaming status adds context to authentication
Identity verification can confirm who is attempting to access an account, but it may not explain whether the surrounding circumstances are consistent with the customer’s expected behavior.
SmartSafe RoamStatus provides a straightforward network response indicating whether a device is roaming. It does not require the customer to enter information or provide detailed location data.
For example, a banking transaction made while a customer’s phone unexpectedly appears to be roaming may prompt the bank to perform an additional security check.
The CAMARA Device Roaming Status API is designed for use cases that include fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and territorial content restrictions. PLDT Enterprise is positioning its implementation primarily as another layer of protection for digital transactions.
The company says subscriber awareness and consent remain part of how the information is handled.
SmartSafe expands beyond silent authentication
The certification builds on Smart’s previous GSMA Open Gateway certification for Number Verification APIs.
That earlier certification supported the November 2025 launch of SmartSafe SilentAccess, which authenticates users directly through Smart’s network without requiring them to enter a one-time password.
“Since we first launched these globally-certified SmartSafe APIs and toolkits, we’ve benefited from inputs from enterprise customers to prioritize the highest impact features they require. Expanding our suite of globally-certified APIs with SmartSafe RoamStatus reinforces our commitment at PLDT Enterprise when we first launched SilentAccess: To develop solutions with advanced security capabilities that strengthen digital trust, without compromising user experience,” said Nico V. Alcoseba, first vice president and head of product management and innovations at PLDT Enterprise.
PLDT Enterprise says feedback from its business customers helped determine which network-based security capabilities should be prioritized.
GSMA certification supports interoperability
GSMA Open Gateway Certification uses a structured testing program to determine whether mobile operators and API providers comply with CAMARA standards and technical specifications.
Standardization allows developers and enterprises to use a more consistent method of accessing network capabilities across participating operators and markets. This reduces the need to create separate integrations for every mobile network.
“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 enable greater innovation across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA. “Certified APIs are critical to building trust and enabling cross-operator interoperability, allowing digital services to be delivered at scale through standardized, secure, and consistent network capabilities.”
The certification program also assesses whether an implementation follows the relevant security and interoperability requirements.
More than 300 networks support the framework
The GSMA says 86 operator groups representing more than 300 networks and approximately 80% of global mobile connections are now aligned with the Open Gateway framework.
The initiative brings mobile operators, developers, technology companies, channel partners, and system integrators together around standardized network APIs.
Fraud prevention remains one of the leading use cases for these APIs, according to the GSMA’s 2026 Open Gateway market update.
More SmartSafe APIs are planned
PLDT Enterprise plans to expand the SmartSafe suite with additional network-powered security tools:
- SmartSafe NetIdentity: Verifies SIM and device authenticity
- SmartSafe GeoCheck: Identifies real-time network location
- SmartSafe KYCPlus: Enhances identity verification using network intelligence
These planned services will complement SmartSafe RoamStatus and SilentAccess by giving enterprises additional signals for assessing the risk behind digital activity.
The SmartSafe tools form part of PLDT Enterprise’s wider technology portfolio, which includes fixed and wireless connectivity, cloud services, data centers, digital platforms, and global connectivity.
In Summary
SmartSafe RoamStatus gives authorized businesses a network-based signal showing whether a customer’s device is roaming. With GSMA Open Gateway certification, the API can support fraud detection and additional security checks without requiring customer input or exposing detailed location information. It joins SmartSafe SilentAccess in PLDT Enterprise’s anti-fraud suite, with NetIdentity, GeoCheck, and KYCPlus planned as future additions.