The telco giant is launching SmartSafe SilentAccess, a network-powered authentication platform designed to replace one-time passwords (OTPs) and strengthen online protection.
Management’s view
“We envision PLDT to be the first to transition beyond OTPs in the country,” said Blums Pineda, senior vice president and head of the Enterprise Business Group at PLDT and Smart.
“With SmartSafe, we are not just protecting enterprises and their end-users – we are shaping the future of digital trust in the Philippines,” Pineda added.
How it works
The system makes PLDT the first local telco to use a certified “silent authentication” process, which verifies a user’s identity directly through the mobile network instead of sending one-time passwords via SMS.
This means users can securely log in or approve transactions without typing codes that scammers often intercept through phishing or SIM swap attacks.
It also supports ongoing efforts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, National Telecommunications Commission, and National Privacy Commission to phase out SMS-based verification in favor of safer, automated methods.
Built on Smart’s nationwide network, SilentAccess works in the background to confirm the user’s legitimacy instantly, making online banking, shopping, and other digital activities faster and more secure.
The company said the system will soon expand into a full suite of tools that also protect against SIM swaps, fake accounts, and other digital identity threats.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
