BroadForward’s SEPP goes live in Comfone’s IPX, enabling 5G Standalone Roaming services globally
Bern, 20 Oct 2025 – Comfone, a global leader in wholesale mobile roaming interconnect, hubbing, and clearing services, has commercially launched its 5G Standalone (SA) roaming signaling service, powered by
BroadForward’s Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP). Following a year-long selection process and extensive live trials with two Asian operators, Comfone is now fully operational with live 5G SA roaming, offering mobile operators, MVNOs, and IoT providers scalable, secure, and future-ready roaming solutions. This includes support for GSMA-approved Hosted and Outsourced SEPP Deployment configurations.
The
BroadForward Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) acts as a gateway that secures and manages all 5G SA roaming signaling, enabling Comfone to provide secure and reliable global connectivity. The BroadForward SEPP runs on the award-winning
BFX Unified Signaling Core, a software architecture that supports a range of network functions from 2G to 5G. These include
STP,
DRA/DEA,
SCP,
signaling firewalls, and
number portability.
With a roaming legacy dating back to 1991, Comfone offers a comprehensive suite of IPX interconnect services, including GRX, SS7, Diameter, and HTTP/2 signaling, along with Data and Financial Clearing. The company’s unique centralized Roaming Hub Service, which adheres to GSMA specifications, allows operators to manage all roaming agreements and connections through a single contract connection, handling over 70,000 connections across more than 500 networks.
BroadForward is a recognized market leader in signaling innovation, with its software solutions deployed in networks of leading MNOs, MVNOs, IoT connectivity providers, and IPX providers worldwide. Earlier this year, telecommunications market analysts Juniper Research projected that the accelerating rollout of 5G Standalone (SA) technology will be a major catalyst for global wholesale roaming revenue growth, from $9 billion in 2024 to $20 billion by 2028.
“This milestone reflects the strength of Comfone’s global capabilities and our commitment to serving more than 600 customers worldwide with a solid and resilient technical infrastructure,” said Daniel Heutschi, CEO of Comfone. “After extensive evaluation and live trials, we chose BroadForward because their BFX product stood out as the most advanced and user-friendly solution. We were equally impressed with their professional collaboration, which has been instrumental in advancing our 5G SA roaming business.”
Taco Schoute, CEO of BroadForward, added, "Comfone’s leadership in IPX makes them a natural partner. Our
SEPP is well-suited to meet the specific demands of IPX, offering unmatched interoperability, flexibility, and deployment options."
About Comfone
Providing borderless and easy communications to all people and all things.
From the Key2roam Platform, Comfone offers a complete portfolio of services and solutions to more than 600 customers worldwide. These include MNOs, MVNOs, SMS A2P Providers, IoT/ M2M Solution Providers, OTT Web Service Providers and a range of new actors who wish to enter the roaming world.
Furthermore, the Key2roam Platform integrates a complete portfolio of services, apps and Value Added Services (VAS) required to build a profitable roaming business. It is built upon a solid foundation integrating the core IPX, Clearing and Hubbing services, thus enabling the seamless transport of Signalling, Data roaming and Clearing traffic. The data streams flowing from our range of roaming services and VAS create the possibility for powerful Big Data and other cross-analytical tools.
https://www.comfone.com/ → Read more
Barcelona, Spain / Abu Dhabi, UAE – 02 March 2026: e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology company e&, today announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, that it has selected BroadForward’s Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) to enhance the security of its 5G and international roaming capabilities. This decision reflects its commitment to deploying best-in-class solutions to support its advanced mobile network service and continuously enhancing end-to-end integrity and safeguarding its networks against evolving security threats. Implemented in collaboration with Emircom, the deployment supports secure interoperability with roaming partners and strengthens protection against evolving security threats.
BroadForward SEPP secures 5G interconnects, ensuring safe and reliable communication between mobile networks. It is software-based, vendor-agnostic, and supports 4G-5G interworking for seamless interoperability and easy integration with existing core networks.
Khaled Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Core Network and platform at e& UAE, said: “At e& UAE, we are dedicated to adopting best-in-class technology solutions that reinforce our leadership in the telecommunications industry. The selection of BroadForward SEPP is a strategic decision to enhance the security and efficiency of our 5G roaming and interconnect services. We are confident that this solution, implemented in partnership with Emircom, will provide a strong foundation for our network’s future.”
Taco Schoute, CEO of BroadForward, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been selected by e& UAE, and to have successfully delivered the BroadForward SEPP together with our trusted partner Emircom. This achievement marks a significant milestone in enabling secure 5G roaming, and reflects our shared commitment to innovation, flexibility, and world-class mobile security”.
This deployment strengthens e& UAE’s roaming security and interconnect capabilities, supporting secure service continuity for customers when travelling internationally.
About e& UAE
e& UAE is the flagship telecom arm of e& in the UAE, built on a 5-decades legacy of connectivity excellence. Our mission is to deliver world-class superior connectivity experiences that fuel the UAE’s future-focused innovation.
Leveraging the latest world-class technologies, e& UAE aims to transform lives and industries, turning every connection into an opportunity for growth and every interaction into a transformative possibility.
We are focused on expanding our core services and digital marketplaces by enriching consumer value propositions that cater to new lifestyles and emerging demands beyond core telecom services, including health, insurance and gaming.
As a trusted enterprise partner, e& UAE continues to power entire industries with 5G and AI, delivering a tailored ecosystem of solutions to meet their connectivity needs and more, empowering them to automate, innovate, transform, and scale.
Strengthening our leadership position as an AI-powered telco, e& UAE delivers seamless connectivity, cutting-edge AI solutions, and sustainable innovation to uplift people and communities, and empower businesses and industries, so everyone thrives in a digital-first world.
To learn more about e& UAE, please visit: https://www.etisalat.ae
About Emircom
Emircom is one of the Middle East's leading independent providers of Telecom & IT infrastructure services, helping customers to drive growth and deliver measurable outcomes. Emircom Powered Managed Services offers comprehensive, tailored solutions designed to streamline Telecom operations and enhance business efficiency.
For more information, visit: https://www.emircom.com/about/
Also see:
Industry perspectives: Adoption of SEPP for 5G roaming
Read: The adoption of SEPP for 5G roaming – why It matters and what’s next
Arelion Launches Global 5G Roaming Solution with BroadForward
Read Arelion announcement on PR Newswire
BroadForward’s SEPP goes live in Comfone’s IPX, enabling 5G Standalone Roaming services globally
Read: Comfone Launches 5G SA Roaming with BroadForward SEPP
BICS announced that it has enabled the “world’s first-ever” intercontinental 5G Standalone (SA) roaming connection
Read: BroadForward SEPP enables BICS to execute world's first live 5G SA Roaming connection across borders Read more
