In the ever-evolving landscape of telecommunications, the role of roaming vendors is pivotal. From enabling seamless global connectivity to ensuring secure communications, these companies are navigating the challenges of the modern digital ecosystem. Recently, Kaleido Intelligence unveiled its Roaming Vendor Hub 2024, identifying the top players in this competitive market.

Let’s dive in and explore what this means for the industry, who the champions are, and how they lead the charge in roaming services.

Understanding the Kaleido Intelligence Report

What is the Roaming Vendor Hub?

The Roaming Vendor Hub is Kaleido Intelligence’s flagship research project, focused on roaming vendors and service providers. Kaleido’s 2024 Vendor Hub has been expanded, now assessing 61 separate vendors across nine product and service categories. Each vendor is active across one of the nine roaming product categories assessed, receiving product score(s) alongside company-specific profiles to give clear and impartial analysis to inform vendor positioning and competitive benchmarking.

Methodology Behind the Research

Kaleido’s research was extensive, involving over five months of rigorous evaluation. The methodology included:

• Primary Research: Product demos, interviews, and questionnaires.
• Secondary Research: Analysis of existing data and market trends.

This approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of each vendor’s capabilities and market positioning.

Key Findings: Champion Vendors Announced

The study is the culmination of more than 5 months’ worth of primary and secondary research, including product demos, questionnaires, and detailed interviews and briefings to collect relevant information.

The Leaders in Roaming Services

The report recognized 32 vendors as champions, highlighting their excellence across various categories. Notable champion vendors include:

• BICS
• Cellusys
• Comfone
• Mobileum
• Syniverse
• Telefónica Global Solutions
• TOMIA

These companies achieved a minimum Kaleido Score of 12 out of 15, reflecting their superior product offerings and service quality.

Breakdown of Product Categories

The Roaming Vendor Hub evaluated vendors across nine vital product categories:

1. Steering of Roaming
2. Sponsored Roaming
3. Roaming Hubs
4. IPX (IP Exchange)
5. Roaming Analytics & Quality Management
6. Clearing & Settlement
7. Roaming Fraud Management
8. Signaling Security & Firewall
9. Roaming Testing

Each category measures various capabilities, ensuring that the chosen vendors excel in areas that matter most to mobile operators.

Spotlight on Champion Vendors: Insights from the Top

BICS

BICS consistently leads the way in several categories, reflecting its commitment to global connectivity. BICS Specialties are: Roaming, IPX, 4G, Wholesale Communications, Global Connectivity, Internet of Things, Signalling, Business Intelligence, Cloud Communications, 5G, Programmable Communications, Digital Communications, Advanced Analytics, Fraud Protection, CPaaS, Internet of Things, VoLTE, and Messaging. Jorn Vercamert, VP Customer Solutions & Products at BICS said:

“Our recognition as Champion and High-Flyer in multiple areas of roaming expertise, as well as the #1 Champion Vendor for IPX underscores BICS’ unwavering commitment to enabling seamless, trusted global connectivity. This accolade reflects the trust our partners place in us to power the world’s digital ecosystems, ensuring secure, high-quality communications. We remain dedicated to driving innovation and delivering exceptional value as a leader in global communication services.”

Cellusys

Cellusys has claimed the title of the best Steering of Roaming vendor. Specialties: Telecommunication, Software, Steering of Roaming, Anti-Steering of Roaming, Signalling Firewall, SMS Firewall, SS7 Firewall, Diameter Firewall, LTE Roaming, National Roaming, Border Steering of Roaming, Roam Welcome, Roam Intelligence, Spamming, Spoofing, and IOT.

Chris Lennartz, VP Product at Cellusys said:

“We are extremely honoured to be recognised again as the #1 Steering of Roaming vendor, based on Kaleido’s broad and in-depth analysis of all market players. With IoT, VoLTE and 5G NSA roaming in acceleration mode and 5G SA roaming and its need for quality steering and automation at our doorstep, we take the responsibility of empowering our customers to do more with less and take control of new exciting roaming use cases.”

Comfone

Celebrating two decades of service, Comfone continues to shine with its Key2roam Hub. Daniel Heutschi, their CEO, expressed pride in their recognition of excellence. Specialties: signalling, roaming, hubbing, data_roaming, ConneXion, clearing_house, data_clearing, financial_clearing, Mobile_roaming, international, Data Management Service, connectivity, M2M E2E Monetisation, IPX/GRX, Key2roam Hub, Key2roam Platform, and Phoenix (BCE service)

Daniel Heutschi, CEO at Comfone:

 “The Comfone team is honoured to once again secure the top position for the Key2roam Hub, especially as we celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Serving our global community of over 500 mobile network operators remains our highest priority, and we are dedicated to delivering the best possible services, powered by the latest advancements, including 5G SA. Our Key2roam Platform stands as a comprehensive ecosystem, and we are proud to see it recognised as a Champion in multiple areas such as IPX and Clearing services. This acknowledgment reaffirms our commitment to excellence, motivating us to continue enhancing our offerings and ensuring top-tier quality for our customers worldwide.”

Telefónica Global Solutions

As the top vendor for sponsored roaming, Telefónica Global Solutions is breaking barriers in global connectivity through innovative services. Kelly Álvarez, CMO Telefónica Global Solutions:

 “We are honoured to be recognised as the #1 Champion for Sponsored Roaming by Kaleido Intelligence. At Telefónica Global Solutions, we enable our customers to effortlessly expand their worldwide roaming coverage through a single connection, eliminating the need for multiple roaming and local agreements thanks to our Global Connect Hub Service. This recognition reinforces our commitment to providing seamless and competitive global roaming connectivity.”

TOMIA and MACH

TOMIA and MACH celebrate their success as the No. 1 Roaming Analytics Vendor. Caetano Pessoa, Product Marketing Manager at TOMIA and MACH:

“TOMIA and MACH are thrilled to be the No. 1 Roaming Analytics Vendor and a Champion across all our offerings. This recognition confirms our roadmap aligns with our customer needs and dynamic market demands. We deliver unified, cross-service, and flexible analytics solutions that enhance control and harness new business opportunities.”

Mobileum

Recognized for its leadership in Fraud management and Signaling security, Mobileum continues to innovate in a rapidly changing landscape. Specialties: Roaming, Network Security, Network Testing, Service Assurance, Risk Management, Data Monetization, Customer Experience Management, Managed Services, Network Intelligence, and Telecom. Bernardo Lucas, Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer at Mobileum:

 “Being named the No. 1 Champion Vendor for Fraud Management, Signalling Security, and Testing by Kaleido Intelligence reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence. This recognition highlights our dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions that ensure secure, reliable, and future-ready telecom services in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”

Syniverse: A Consistent Leader

Syniverse was once again scored as the overall leader across all product categories for the fourth consecutive year. , showcasing remarkable performance in multiple segments while reinforcing their roaming market positioning. Specialties:
5G, 4G, LTE, IoT, internet of things, cybersecurity, secure network, IPX, RCS, Rich Communication Services, IMSI, text messaging, SMS, MMS, roaming, clearing, settlement, mobile number portability, VoLTE, and mobile marketing.

Andrew Davies, CEO at Syniverse:

“Syniverse is honoured to be recognised as the #1 overall roaming vendor for the fourth consecutive year by Kaleido. This achievement reflects our commitment to providing world-class, global connectivity solutions, while also focusing on driving new advancements in communications technology.”

The Importance of Innovation in Roaming

As the telecommunications landscape shifts, innovation becomes crucial. The 2024 Roaming Vendor Hub emphasizes how these champions are adapting to:

• 5G technology and its implications for roaming.
• The rise of IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
• The growing need for security in telecommunications.

These factors not only influence the capabilities of vendors but also reshape the expectations of mobile operators.

The Future of Roaming Services

With the changing demands of consumers and businesses alike, the future of roaming services is dynamic. Kaleido’s report indicates that:

• New use cases for roaming are emerging as 5G and IoT proliferate.
• Vendors must continue to innovate to meet these evolving needs.

This adaptability will be key for roaming vendors to maintain their champion status in the industry.

Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy & Insights at Kaleido Intelligence, commented:

“The 2024 Roaming Vendor Hub highlights the transformative impact of innovative roaming vendors as they tackle next-generation service demands and dynamic use cases. This year’s expanded assessment introduces a new category and 10+ additional companies, reflecting our growing commitment to showcasing industry leaders driving global connectivity and mobile operator success.”

Conclusion

The Kaleido Intelligence Roaming Vendor Hub 2024 has provided invaluable insights into the leading players in the roaming market. By recognizing champions like BICS, Cellusys, Comfone, Mobileum, and others, this report sheds light on the importance of quality and innovation in telecommunications. As we look ahead, the ongoing evolution of roaming services promises exciting opportunities for both vendors and mobile operators to capitalize on new technologies and market demands.