Update on 2026 plan
2026 is set to be a busy year for the i3Forum. Our working groups have identified key priorities to help drive more progress across the industry:
Fight Fraud
Analyzing the use of AI to detect, prevent and mitigate fraud, starting a separate track to advance the fight against SMS fraud, and collaborating on an industry data and information sharing framework.
Cloud Numbering
Developing a factbook including comprehensive regulatory assessments, trusted CLI recommendations, technical compliance guidelines, and regulatory inputs for legitimate cloud number service implementations and priority use cases.
Technology
Evolution of roaming including a thorough 5G Roaming Connectivity analysis and international carrier recommendations, collaborating on SMS spoofing solutions, Regional PGW data traffic offloading, call verification, and the impact of eSIM to roaming.
Numbering Plan
Improving industry-wide numbering-plan communication and information quality to support key operational activities.
Market Data
Evaluating the development of New Voice Network usage KPIs as well as total voice traffic market trending and benchmarking.
We also have two new Working Groups this year and they will focus on:
Network APIs and Identity
Building a shared industry understanding of telco-driven identity, mobile-based verification, and network API capabilities.
Spam and Scam
Developing a framework for identifying, managing, and mitigating spam and scam calls and messages between international carriers for Voice and SMS.
Finally, we will also be working on new topics for the Forum:
– The evolution of eSIMs and the role of Carriers in this ecosystem
– A2P / RCS / WhatsApp: An integrated messaging approach
On top of all these activities, we will be creating a platform to exchange ideas between carriers and vendors, putting more emphasis on the customers of our members (e.g. the MNOs, RSPs, etc) as well as expanding in key regions such as Asia, ME&A and South America.
Exciting times ahead of us!!c
Series of Webinars in 2026
In order to ensure more people hear about the vital work we’re doing, we will be holding a series of Webinars in 2026. Topics include Fighting Spoofing, How Can Carriers Fight Spam and Scam Together, New Voice Network Usage and Services, Restoring Trust in International Telecommunications, KYC as a Key Component to Fight Fraud, Numbering Range Usage …and more.
Our first Webinar is:
Fight Spoofing and Restore Trust in International CLIs
Wednesday February 25, 2026, 9am CET and 3pm CET (two sessions)
Industry stakeholders involved in international voice, messaging, engineering and product management, are encouraged to participate.
Over the last few years, consumer trust in Calling Line Identification (CLI) displayed on their devices has significantly diminished-particularly for calls originating from international networks. This erosion of trust is largely driven by the misuse and spoofing of CLIs by fraudulent actors, including scammers and predatory sales callers, who exploit the ability to manipulate CLI information across borders in the absence of consistent global administrative control.
To address this growing challenge, the i3Forum Technology Working Group (WG) is hosting a focused webinar examining practical solutions to combat CLI spoofing and restore confidence in international calling, based on their work in 2025 (see CLI Consistency Checks and Mobile Roamer Identification Verification Abstract documents on the i3Forum’s website).
During the webinar, a sample implementation of CLI checks deployed in Italy to protect national subscribers will be demonstrated for further discussion.
This webinar reflects i3Forum’s ongoing commitment to enabling industry-led collaboration and sharing practical best practices that improve trust, reduce fraud, and enhance the integrity of international telecommunications.
Congratulations to
our board members!
It’s been a successful time for some of our board recently. At the Capacity Awards back in the Autumn Eva Jimenez, i3Forum Alternate Board Member and Co-Chair Cloud Numbers and Inbound Calling Workgroup, won the prestigious GLF Chair Award and recently Philippe Millet and Eli Katz were named in the list of Capacity’s Most Influential People of 2025.
Eva was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the industry – particularly in advancing voice and anti-fraud solutions, collaborating on the harmonization of standards, and driving technological innovation.
Since founding i3Forum in 2008, Philippe has been a driving force for collaboration across the global telecom ecosystem and continues to lead industry efforts to restore trust in international communications. As founder and Chair of One Consortium, Philippe is also uniting industry leaders and regulators (in GIRAF) to combat unwanted and fraudulent voice calls and text messages worldwide.
In addition to his leadership at XConnect and i3Forum, Eli serves as Lifetime President of the Comms Council UK and as a Leadership Council member of One Consortium, helping strengthen cooperation across the global telecom community.
Thank you, Eva, Philippe and Eli, for your leadership and continued impact. Here’s to even more progress in 2026 and beyond.