One of the world's largest telecommunication services providers, Telefónica (TEF), is partnering with decentralized oracle network Chainlink (LINK) to ensure security against Web3-related hacks and exploits, including "SIM Swap" attacks.

The partnership will provide security for smart contracts that will connect with other Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) on the "GSMA Open Gateway," according to a statement published on Thursday. GSMA – an organization that consists of over 1,000 mobile operators and businesses – started the GSMA Open Gateway, which introduced APIs to help bring telecom technologies onto the Web3 ecosystem, the statement said.

"This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating Telco capabilities into the blockchain industry and demonstrates the need for secure oracle networks to deliver real-world data on-chain," the statement said. "This interconnected ecosystem enhances the functionality and security of Web3 applications, contributing to a more robust and verifiable digital landscape," the statement added.

One of the first use case of the initiative will be to prevent exploits such as "SIM Swap" – a form of hacking tool based on identity theft and false impersonation of a financial account holder. The scheme has been used increasingly in the Web3 industry, and one of the recent high-profile cases of such fraud has been a theft of $400 million from Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX as the exchange was collapsing in 2022.

The first GSMA Open Gateway API – aptly called SIM SWAP – will be introduced in Brazil by Telefónica to add a layer of extra security to blockchain transactions.

"This integration not only enhances transaction security but also introduces an extra layer of security to blockchain transactions by enabling smart contracts to now make information requests to the API, ensuring that a device's SIM card has not undergone any unauthorized changes," the statement said.

Telefonica Chainlink Web3 SIM swap

Aoyon Ashraf

Aoyon Ashraf is CoinDesk's managing editor for Breaking News. He spent almost a decade at Bloomberg covering equities, commodities and tech. Prior to that, he spent several years on the sellside, financing small-cap companies. Aoyon graduated from University of Toronto with a degree in mining engineering. He holds ETH and BTC, as well as ALGO, ADA, SOL, OP and some other altcoins which are below CoinDesk's disclosure threshold of $1,000.