Streamr signs pilot agreement with GSMA

Swiss real-time data experts, Streamr, today partnered with GSMA, the industry body for mobile telecom communications, to allow three mobile network operators (MNOs) to monetize their user data ethically. 

GSMA and Streamr will work together to deliver a technological accelerator programme to selected mobile network operators (MNOs). The initiative aims to fast-track potential adoption of new technologies permitting users to share and monetize mobile device data in partnership with operators.

The 90-day program, billed by GSMA as an “exciting opportunity” to pilot new privacy centric technology, seeks to scale new approaches to the monetization of user information. It is  designed to allow telcos and their users to jointly realize billions in new revenue from the consumer insights market, in a manner that complies with regulatory environments. 

The new monetization methods are likely to receive support from Brussels in the Data Services Act next year. 

“Given regulatory changes, and rapidly changing consumer attitudes to both privacy and the value of their data, the only sustainable way for MNOs to monetize mobile data, is by gaining overt consent from their users.

“We also know that the consumer insights industry is desperately underserved when it comes to data from mobiles. We are confident that Streamr’s revolutionary Data Union framework allows them to capture and record this consent, and share that data dynamically and securely,” said Shiv Malik, Head of Growth at Streamr.  

Using a smartphone app, end-users will be asked outright if they want to opt in to join the Data Union to ‘sell’ their data in partnership with their network operator and what exact data they would like to broker.

Streamr co-founder Henri Pihkala added, “It’s very exciting to consider the potential for this pilot.  MNOs are ideally positioned to unlock the rich customer insights that their subscribers create on their devices each day. Privacy focused data monetization that works with those users, presents a significant new income stream, as the industry faces multiple pressures on existing revenues”.

Immediate Applications for the pilot’s data include consumer footfall and mobility intelligence for brands, retail operators and commercial landlords, as well as in events management and city planning applications. 

The pilot will also include a significant research element, gathering user experiences around having the ability to control how, and with whom, their data is shared - as well as how they feel about receiving a share of its value in the future. Learnings will also inform network user retention strategies.