Telecom industry body GSMA today announced the launch of Mobile Connect mobile-based authentication solution in India — at an event in Delhi.

GSMA’s Mobile Connect solution enables mobile customers to create and manage a digital universal identity via a single login.

Mobile network operators such as Aircel, Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Telenor and Vodafone India are offering Mobile Connect services.

Mats Granryd, director general of GSMA, said: “Today’s launch marks the culmination of a year-long collaboration amongst the Indian telecoms to deliver a single, intuitive and secure mobile-based authentication solution that enables millions of consumers to safely access online services on their mobile devices without worrying about privacy or passwords.”

Anupam Vasudev, CMO of Aircel; Srikanth Balachandran, global CHRO of Bharti Airtel; Sashi Shankar, CMO of Idea Cellular; Sunil Tandon, head non voice services at Tata Teleservices; Upanga Dutta, CMO of Telenor and Sunil Sood, CEO of Vodafone India attended the event.

42 telecom operators in 22 countries around the world are implementing Mobile Connect, making it available to nearly 3 billion customers.

The service securely authenticates users, enabling them to digitally confirm their identity and their credentials and grant safe online access to mobile and digital services. Mobile Connect works by employing the user’s unique mobile number, combined with a unique PIN for more secure use cases, to verify and grant online access.

Digital service providers including GaneshaSpeaks, GoIbibo, Trupay, Twigly, Zee Digital Group and Zomato will be utilizing Mobile Connect.

Business-to-business Mobile Connect services have been deployed by BuyHatke and Times Mobile, enabled by mXpresso and will help to prevent fraud installations and fake application downloads. Apigee and WSO2.Telco have provided technology to integrate Mobile Connect with the operators’ networks.

Indian mobile subscribers will initially be able to access Mobile Connect services, including login and self-care apps, from their operator’s website and in the future, anywhere they see the Mobile Connect logo.