New Global Phone Fraud Protection Standards: How They Work and Russia’s Role
The ITU‑T’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector has unveiled a landmark set of international standards aimed at stamping out voice‑phishing (vishing) worldwide—an initiative that promises to bolster subscriber trust, safeguard personal data, and showcase Russia’s tech leadership on the global stage
Protecting the Network
The ITU‑T proposal centers on integrating public‐key certificates into existing signaling systems used by both mobile and traditional telephony networks. By embedding digital signatures at the gateway level (Signalling Security Gateway, SSGW), operators will be able to authenticate calling numbers and block spoofed—or “fake”—caller IDs before they ever reach consumers.
At the heart of this architecture is the Trusted Signalling Certification Authority (TSCA), a new root authority that issues X.509 certificates for signing all signalling traffic according to the ITU‑T Q.3057 specification developed by ITU’s Study Group 11. Once fully deployed, these standards will give carriers a clear rule‑book to prevent millions of fraudulent calls—especially those routed through international trunks—thus reducing financial losses across banking, government, and private sectors, and enhancing network resilience around the world.
Expanded Capabilities and Russian Innovations
Russian cybersecurity firms that specialize in detecting and blocking scam calls can now adapt their solutions to meet these new ITU‑T benchmarks, opening up fresh export opportunities. Domestic regulators such as Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development are already mapping out pathways to incorporate these standards into national telecom regulation.
By aligning local anti‑fraud platforms with global requirements, Russian operators will be able to offer enhanced device‑level protection—think built‑in call screening, risk ranking, and real‑time alerts. Banks and inter‑operator communication channels stand to benefit, too, as improved authentication will tighten security around cross‑border transactions and customer credentials.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
In 2024, Russia launched nationwide “blacklist” databases of known scam numbers and trialed SIM‑box traps. In spring 2025, T‑Bank, in partnership with the Nizhny Novgorod regional government and ANO “Gorky Tech,” rolled out the country’s first stationary “fraud roulette” booth—letting volunteers answer live scam calls to tie up fraudsters. On average, con artists wasted over ₽12,000 per hour on those decoy lines.
Globally, operators like Vodafone and Orange had already experimented with triangulation and AI‑driven voice analysis before 2020. The new ITU‑T standard simply formalizes these best practices into a unified framework, transitioning from isolated initiatives to a worldwide defense system.
According to industry forecasts, within the next 12–24 months these ITU‑T vishing standards could become mandatory for all market participants. Carriers will then introduce certified anti‑vishing products, and subscribers across the globe—including in the US—will enjoy markedly safer calling experiences.
Expert Perspective
This comprehensive, standards‑based approach not only strengthens consumer protection but also highlights Russia’s significant contributions to global telecom security innovation.
