Securing LATAM Networks: a GMS Network Protection Webinar Overview

The GMS webinar Securing LATAM Networks: Preventing smishing and spamming threats while protecting A2P revenue, held on October 27, explored how mobile operators can safeguard subscribers and A2P SMS revenues against evolving fraud threats.

Featuring GMS experts Kateryna Nakonechna, Chief Commercial Officer; Rogelio Ayala, Regional Director LATAM; and Asim Spahic, Senior Product Manager, the session combined regional insights with a real operator deployment in LATAM, highlighting the importance of automated fraud detection and protection across SMS, voice and data.

Commercial Reality: A Growing Market Under Threat 

According to Mobilesquared, combined SMS, RCS and WhatsApp traffic in LATAM is projected to grow from 340.5 billion messages in 2025 to 1.29 trillion by 2030. Although harmful traffic is forecast to decline by 39%, it will still total 21.1 billion messages.

High mobile penetration, fragmented international routes and demand for low-cost messaging create opportunities for fraudsters. SMS blasters, evolving SIM-box profiles and content manipulation further complicate detection.

Global Anti-Scam Alliance data showed that SMS was a scam contact channel for 55% of people who encountered scams in Brazil, 49% in Mexico and 25% in Argentina. For operators, the consequences extend beyond revenue leakage to subscriber trust and network reputation.

Poll Insights: Identifying the Biggest Challenges 

The webinar invited participants to identify their biggest security challenges across SMS, voice and data, alongside their approaches to network protection and APIs adoption. This framing highlighted the need for security strategies that extend beyond individual communication channels.

Operational Insights: Closing the Grey-Route Gap 

A customer case study from LATAM demonstrated this approach in practice. Following an international SMS monetisation agreement and SMS Firewall deployment in 2023, the operator identified growing grey route traffic in early 2024. Messages from major international brands entered through unauthorised SIM-box routes, bypassing approved A2P channels.

GMS introduced Adaptive SIM-box Fraud Management, a machine-learning module that continuously analyses traffic and automatically identifies and blocks fraudulent SIM-box activity. Unlike static filtering, the system adapts as fraud patterns evolve.

Between January and April 2024, the operator recorded a 28% increase in legitimate A2P SMS traffic, a more than 1,000% increase in automated blocking of fraudulent SIM-box MSISDNs, and a 476% increase in legitimate TikTok traffic delivered through authorised A2P routes. These results showed how stronger traffic control supports monetisation.

Commercial Reality: A Growing Market Under Threat 

In 2025, the project expanded to subscriber security following rising complaints linked to mobile-originated spam, which accounted for more than 90% of complaints identified in the operator's investigation. This shift moved the focus from revenue protection to subscriber trust.

GMS deployed Adaptive SPAM Protection, using machine learning and sender-behaviour analysis to identify suspicious traffic patterns. Automated workflows replaced slower manual intervention, enabling faster threat detection and blocking.

Following implementation, mobile-originated traffic fell by around 30%, while spam-related complaints declined significantly, demonstrating the value of intelligent automation in protecting subscribers and reducing operational workloads.

Beyond SMS: Flash Calls and Wider Network Protection 

The next challenge involved alternative authentication methods. In 2025, flash-call authentication represented 15% of the traffic under review. GMS Flash Call Management went live in the fourth quarter, with A2P SMS traffic recovery beginning in early 2026 as flash-call activity declined.

The webinar also highlighted the broader GMS Network Protection suite, covering SMS fraud and spam filtering, AI/ML-based voice profiling, flash-call mitigation and data-traffic analysis to detect unauthorised A2P, RCS and OTT activity.

The Mexico case shows how network threats keep evolving, from grey-route abuse to spam and flash calls. As messaging ecosystems grow more complex, LATAM operators must not only address today’s fraud patterns, but also anticipate emerging risks while maintaining legitimate traffic flows, protecting subscribers and preserving revenue.