DITO Telecommunity has launched a new identity verification service that uses mobile network authentication instead of traditional one-time passwords (OTPs), positioning itself as the first telecommunications provider in the Philippines to commercially offer a unified carrier-based user verification platform.
Called DITO Verified, the service was developed in partnership with authentication technology firm Shush Inc. and is designed to verify a user’s identity when accessing banking applications, e-wallets, and other digital platforms.
The platform uses Silent Network Authentication (SNA), which performs a cryptographic verification between DITO’s mobile network and a subscriber’s SIM card.
Unlike OTP-based systems, no code is sent to the user, reducing the risk of interception through phishing, SIM-swap attacks, or other fraud schemes.
DITO said the service can be integrated into existing authentication systems with minimal changes. It runs on Shush’s Sherlock platform, an authentication infrastructure currently used by organizations in more than 40 countries.
The launch comes as financial institutions face increasing regulatory pressure to adopt stronger authentication measures. Republic Act No. 12010, or the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 1213 require BSP-supervised entities to implement phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication systems.
Because DITO Verified relies on cryptographic validation rather than transmitted security codes, the company said the platform is designed to comply with these requirements.
DITO and Shush first announced their partnership during the Asian Carriers Conference in Cebu in September 2025. The commercial rollout was later showcased at the 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as part of discussions on network application programming interfaces (APIs).
According to DITO, the service is intended for a range of users, including universal banks, fintech firms, e-commerce companies, and government agencies seeking stronger identity verification tools.
“This launch represents a significant step towards enhancing digital trust and security,” said Leandro Santos, assistant vice president for DITO Enterprise.
He said DITO Verified was designed to provide “seamless, background identity validation” for digital services.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has also expressed interest in evaluating the technology for government applications.
During the launch, DICT undersecretary David Almirol said the agency wants to explore whether the platform can help address challenges associated with existing OTP-based systems, including delays and operational costs.
DITO reported 13.67 million subscribers as of end-2024 and said it had achieved National Telecommunications Commission-certified population coverage of 86.3 percent.
