Globe taps Xura for anti-spam solutions

Ayala- led Globe Telecom Inc. has tapped US- based technology firm Xura for a $ 4 million hardware and software solution to wipe out unwanted spam and scam text messages.

The new solution is equipped with complex anti- spam algorithms and a fully automated mechanism with a capacity of filtering up to one billion text messages per day.

With the new solution, Globe has brought its daily average of blocked messages to 300,000 from 17,000.

“The establishment of a new mechanism to block the transmittal of these messages brings us a step closer to having a spam- free network. Globe will never allow the use of its network by individuals who want to take advantage of our customers. As Globe steps up its campaign to purge its network of spam and scam messages, we expect this number to increase further moving forward,” Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio said.

The use of the new solution is also considered timely with more spam messages expected ahead of the national and local elections in May.

Bonifacio said the new mechanism now covers majority of the company’s postpaid and prepaid customers totaling 53 million as of the end of 2015.

Since September 2014, Globe has been using an automated filtering mechanism to reduce the number of spam and scam messages going through its network.

As of end-2015, Globe blocked close to 37 million spam and scam text messages.

Aside from blocking spam and scam messages, Globe has also disconnected from service more than 30,000 prepaid

numbers found to be consistent sources of spam and scam text messages.

The numbers were blocked from the Globe network after

being reported through http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam.

Meanwhile, Globe has secured a temporary restraining order ( TRO) from the Cebu City Regional Trial Court against the city council’s move to deactivate the telco firm’s cell tower in Brgy. Apas.

The court granted the TRO as it noted Globe has an existing lease contract on the property for a period of two years from July 15, 2015 to July 14, 2017, and the clamor of residents of Brgy. Apas to deactivate the cell site was based on unsubstantiated claims.

As of the end of December last year, Globe had a mobile subscriber base of 52.9 million.

–