BARCELONA, Spain -- (Business Wire)
The Carrier Blockchain Study Group (“CBSG”), the global
blockchain consortium of telecom carriers, today announced that South
Korea-based LG Uplus Corp. (“LG Uplus”), UAE-based Etisalat Group
(“Etisalat”), South Korea-based KT Corporation (“KT”),
Spain-based Telefónica, S.A. (“Telefónica”), and Philippine-based
PLDT Inc. (“PLDT”) agreed to jointly explore how to collaborate
on building a next-generation global cross-carrier blockchain platform
and ecosystem.
CBSG was launched in September 2017 to enable the joint development of
an innovative blockchain platform designed specifically for telecom
carriers, led by Japan-based SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) and
U.S.-based blockchain technology company TBCASoft, Inc. (“TBCASoft”),
U.S.-based Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”) and Taiwan-based Far
EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (“Far EasTone”). CBSG aims
to provide telecom members and their customers various services such as
secured clearing and settlement, personal authentication, IoT
applications and other services using blockchain technology in the
future.
CBSG promotes research and development of the blockchain platform, and
already succeeded in demonstrating top-ups*1, mobile wallet
roaming*2,international remittances, IoT payments
and roaming charge settlements on a cross-carrier blockchain payment
platform. CBSG also functions as a working group for members to resolve
issues related to technology, business and the regulations of various
jurisdictions. As one of working groups, SoftBank and Far EasTone are
planning a mobile wallet roaming trial to Japanese and Taiwanese
travelers within FY2018. LG Uplus, Etisalat and KT have also agreed to
evaluate CBSG initial use cases in their operations using TBCASoft
technology.
Combining all participating carriers would put the consortium in the
position to lead the blockchain initiative in the industry. With these
new members, CBSG will accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology
among telecom carriers and continue to expand carrier networks on a
global scale.
Wonseok Cho, the VP of LG Uplus, said
“By establishing Blockchain
between carriers, we can provide differentiated services by securing
transparency, security and real-time transactions of
Blockchain-advantages. LG Uplus will continue to explore differentiated
customer values through cooperation with CBSG.”
Khalifa Al Shamsi, Group Chief Corporate Strategy and Governance Officer
of Etisalat Group, said
“Blockchain is currently one of the most
promising technologies across industries and organizations who are
exploring its potential impact and benefit from this emerging technology
that will enhance consumer services by bringing in innovative tools to
improve their experience on digital platforms. We are looking forward to
collaborate with CBSG to explore possibilities to capitalize on this
next-generation global cross-carrier blockchain platform and ecosystem.
This collaboration is in line with our ongoing strategy of focusing on
‘Driving a digital future to empower societies’ where technologies like
blockchain will help drive innovation in customer experience and
contribute towards the blockchain ecosystem.”
Mihyang, Lee of KT, Senior Vice President of Convergence Business
Department, said
“Blockchain will help KT transform to full-fledged
Digital Service Providers securing a sound position in the rapidly
changing market, and KT sees the greatest opportunities in the areas of
energy, healthcare and global roaming business.”
*1 Recharging of a pre-paid phone account
*2 A
digital wallet that enables mobile users to make payment transactions on
a mobile device when traveling outside their home countries with
settlement through their home mobile carriers.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180223005167/en/
Contacts:
Media contacts:
SoftBank Corp.
Corporate Communications
(Japan)
+81.3.6889.2301
sbpr@softbank.co.jp
or
Sprint
Corporation
Lisa Belot
+1.913.315.5730
Lisa.Belot@sprint.com
or
TBCASoft,
Inc.
TBCASoft, Inc. (USA)
marketing@tbcasoft.com
or
Far
EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
pr@fareastone.com.tw
or
LG
Uplus Corp.
pr@lguplus.co.kr
or
Etisalat
Group
nsudheer@etisalat.ae
or
KT
Corporation
Young-Wan, Kim
youngwand@kt.com
or
Telefónica,
S.A.
prensatelefonica@telefonica.com
or
PLDT
Inc.
media@pldt.com.ph
Source: SoftBank Corp.
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