PLDT’s corporate arm, PLDT Enterprise, said on Monday it has partnered with API exposure platform developer Nabstract to enable direct user authentication via open network APIs rather than one-time passwords (OTPs).

Under the partnership, PLDT’s mobile arm Smart Communications will build Nabstract’s Service Exposure Platform (SEP) into its network infrastructure to power PLDT Enterprise’s SmartSafe SilentAccess solution (part of PLDT’s SmartSafe fraud management API suite) to authenticate users using Smart’s open network APIs.

PLDT Enterprise said this will allow seamless logins and transactions without the need for OTPs sent via text message, which are often targets of phishing and other scams.

It also enables the telco to offer real-time fraud detection for businesses in banking, e-commerce and SMEs to protect their customers from cyber-attacks, reduce financial losses, and build stronger digital trust, said Nico Alcoseba, first VP and head of product management at PLDT Enterprise.

“With our GSMA Open Gateway API Certification, we are taking bold steps toward future-proofing businesses with seamless, fraud-resistant solutions – enabling them to serve their customers with confidence,” Alcoseba said in a statement.

“Through this partnership, we aim to empower businesses with scalable, efficient, and highly secure network API integrations,” added Nabstract’s founder and director Vaibhav Mehta.

PLDT, Smart Communications and PLDT Enterprise joined the GSMA Open Gateway initiative in June 2024. Nabstract is a certified Open Gateway Channel Partner under the initiative.