Since The Blockchain Event launched in 2016, the industry has been in search of the killer app beyond Bitcoin and crypto in general.

Our last event was very exciting because there was less of a crypto focus and more of a business use case.

Since the early days, we have seen shipping and logistics as an area for blockchain growth. IBM has been very active here working with Maersk and Walmart.

Still, assuming regulators allow it to move forward, Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency could also function as a blockchain killer app.

Telecom is another big area ripe for blockchain disruption. Case in point…

TOMIA today announced a new optimized blockchain based solution to the telecoms market. This solution will extend TOMIA’s market-leading solutions for the inter-carrier market to include blockchain-based settlements across the interconnect and roaming ecosystems.

500 people strong, TOMIA was formed from the merger of Starhome Mach and Telarix, industry veterans in Roaming and Interconnect. TOMIA offers transformative connectivity solutions to service providers worldwide. Its innovative offering enables customers to manage a unified optimization process of both roaming and interconnect while driving the future of connectivity through new technologies and services such as VoLTE, NFV, and 5G.

TOMIA has been seeing rapid change associated with the digital transformation of the telecoms market that is driving settlement optimization. The new solution from TOMIA will change the way settlement and dispute management is handled in both the interconnect and roaming worlds.

To provide a fully comprehensive solution, TOMIA is joining forces with leading blockchain platforms and experts including Microsoft and its Azure Blockchain Service, KPMG and R3. The new platform will be built on R3’s Corda.

Marco Limena, CEO of TOMIA said, “We are privileged to work with Microsoft, the leading enabler of digital transformation. This is a testament to the unmatched value of our technology innovation, as well as to our strong record of 25 years in delivering premier services, consistently meeting performance targets, and our market-leading expertise in roaming and interconnect.”

I interviewed Marco over a decade ago when he became CEO of Sylantro Systems which was purchased by competitor Broadsoft which was purchased by Cisco.

“Microsoft Azure and Azure Blockchain Service helps TOMIA deliver solutions that allow communication service providers to focus more on their customers’ experience and less on managing servers and daily operations,” said Marc Mercuri, Principal Program Manager, Blockchain Engineering at Microsoft Corp. “The Blockchain Settlement solution addresses a variety of issues related to the telecommunication industry and allows CSPs to take advantage of the flexibility and enterprise-grade reliability that Azure provides.”

“Blockchain has the potential to deliver transparency and visibility, providing the opportunity to help reduce reconciliations and increase efficiencies associated with traditional interconnect billing, roaming and partner settlement processes. KPMG is pleased to be working with TOMIA”, said Arun Ghosh, KPMG’s National Blockchain leader.

David E. Rutter, CEO of R3, said, “As the telecoms market becomes increasingly digitized, there is a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency of settlement and dispute management processes, saving time and costs. We think the Corda blockchain, with its focus on security, scalability and performance for enterprise use, provides the ideal technology platform for developing new solutions. We’re excited to be engaging with some of the industry’s most experienced and accomplished names, TOMIA, KPMG and Microsoft, to work on this project.”

Blockchain is a natural technology for telecom settlement – it is secure and immutable. We are impressed with this initiative between Tomia, Microsoft, KPMG and R3.

Learn about the latest in everything you need! Blockchain, UCaaS, the Channel, IT, IOT, Edge, Cybersecurity, AI, SD-WAN, and the Future of Work at the world’s only SD-WAN Expo and MSP Expo, part of the ITEXPO #TechSuperShow, Feb 12-14, 2020 Fort Lauderdale, FL.