Arelion, one of the world’s leading network providers, has announced a strategic partnership with Cellusys, a global frontrunner in roaming steering, fraud prevention, and analytics. Together, they’re launching a hosted suite of roaming Value Added Services (VAS)—a move that could significantly reshape how mobile operators handle security, performance, and customer experience in an increasingly complex 5G environment.

This collaboration combines Arelion’s global IPX and Tier-1 backbone with Cellusys’ cutting-edge signalling and analytics solutions, creating a fully managed, plug-and-play model that’s both scalable and cost-efficient for operators worldwide.

A Smarter, Simpler Approach to Roaming

Under the new partnership, Arelion will roll out a range of hosted roaming services powered by Cellusys technology, allowing operators to activate advanced network intelligence without massive hardware investments or on-site deployments.

Key components include:

• Hosted Security – A real-time signalling firewall protecting against SS7, Diameter, and future 5G signalling threats, shielding networks from fraud, intrusion, and abuse.
• Roaming VAS – Tools for roaming steering, Welcome SMS, and campaign management, enabling operators to improve subscriber engagement while maximizing revenue from roaming traffic.
• Analytics & Intelligence – A deep visibility platform that provides real-time traffic insights, performance monitoring, and threat analysis, giving operators the data to make faster, smarter decisions.

What’s particularly attractive for operators is the ease of activation. All services are delivered through Arelion’s global IPX, which means no new infrastructure and end-to-end management—from updates to ongoing support.

“This is an important step in the evolution of our IPX services,” said Anna Maslewska, Head of Products at Arelion, emphasizing how the move extends Arelion’s portfolio beyond connectivity. “It enables our customers to strengthen security, drive revenue, and enhance roaming capabilities across our global network.”

Meeting the Challenges of Modern Roaming

Roaming today is far more complicated than it used to be. Operators must deal with multiple signalling protocols, latency-sensitive applications, and heightened security risks, especially with the rollout of 5G Standalone (SA) networks.

The Arelion–Cellusys solution offers a way to manage that complexity efficiently:

• Standards-compliant signalling protection, in line with GSMA and 3GPP recommendations.
• Multi-protocol support for SS7, Diameter, and 5G SBA.
• Faster deployment and scaling into new markets without additional infrastructure.
• Optimized traffic steering to increase roaming profitability.
• Integrated intelligence to identify network anomalies and threats in real time.

For operators, this effectively translates into less operational burden and greater network resilience, as they can offload complex tasks to Arelion and Cellusys—two companies with proven global capabilities.

Brendan Cleary, CEO at Cellusys, put it simply:

“Together, we enable operators to deploy roaming services and signalling security without heavy investments or delays, while providing the intelligence needed to operate smarter in the 5G world.”

Why This Partnership Matters

While hosted solutions aren’t entirely new, the combination of Arelion’s IPX reach and Cellusys’ security stack positions this partnership uniquely. Arelion operates one of the largest and most connected Internet backbones in the world—spanning 125+ Points of Presence (PoPs) across 35 countries—making it an ideal platform for delivering global-scale managed services.

At the same time, Cellusys has earned a strong reputation for precision in signalling security and analytics-driven innovation. The company consistently ranks among the top in industry evaluations such as the ROCCO Vendor Benchmark Reports, where it has scored high for steering and firewall performance.

By merging these strengths, Arelion and Cellusys are responding to a growing operator demand for managed, cloud-hosted network functions that balance security, scalability, and affordability—especially crucial as 5G SA networks become mainstream and roaming traffic surges again post-pandemic.

The Bigger Picture: Where the Market Is Heading

The partnership reflects a broader telecom trend toward outsourcing complex network functions. Operators are increasingly turning to managed service providers to reduce costs, accelerate 5G deployment, and keep pace with evolving threat landscapes.

Competitors like Syniverse, BICS, and iBASIS also offer roaming and IPX services, but Arelion’s advantage lies in its Tier-1 backbone integration—an asset few can match. This allows for end-to-end visibility and control over traffic flows, a crucial differentiator in the age of 5G slicing and IoT roaming.

However, the industry still faces major challenges: fragmented 5G interoperability, lack of standardization in signalling protection, and ongoing fraud vulnerabilities in legacy protocols. Reports from GSMA’s Fraud and Security Group (FASG) and Juniper Research suggest that signalling fraud could cost operators over $4 billion annually by 2026 if not properly mitigated.

This is where partnerships like Arelion–Cellusys could make a tangible difference—offering operators the tools to secure and optimize roaming without draining resources.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Smarter Global Connectivity

In a market where roaming margins are shrinking and threats are rising, the Arelion–Cellusys partnership offers a clear path forward—combining infrastructure scale with intelligent software. It’s a model that aligns with the industry’s shift toward Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) and cloud-based roaming ecosystems.

While players like BICS and Syniverse dominate in scale, Arelion’s edge lies in agility and the strength of its Tier-1 backbone. With Cellusys’ innovation layered on top, operators now have a way to secure, analyze, and monetize roaming traffic faster than ever—without the traditional operational drag.

As 5G SA adoption expands and the number of connected devices multiplies, this kind of hosted, intelligent roaming framework may well become the industry standard—marking a shift from managing networks to orchestrating smarter, safer connectivity worldwide.