BICS has announced it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire mobile identity & authentication solution provider TeleSign for $230 million.

The telco claims the acquisition creates the world’s first end-to-end Communication Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) providers (just in case if you needed another aaS), as it bolsters its security credentials. According to BICS, CPaaS allows developers and product owners to easily add real-time communications features into their applications and services without having to build backend infrastructure and interfaces. Well, there you are. And we thought it was just another marketing buzzword.

“We’ve been in the driver’s seat of our industry’s transformation, and we’ve built a solid business of over €1.5 billion in yearly turnover, with the ambition of bridging the telecom world with the new and innovative communications providers worldwide”, said Daniel Kurgan, CEO of BICS.

“By combining the power of TeleSign’s advanced cloud communication platform and customer base with BICS’ market-leading footprint and global reach, we are well positioned to lead the development of one of technology’s most exciting sectors.”

TeleSign will continue to operate as an independent business, but will form part of the wider BICS strategy of becoming an international digital enabler, whatever that happens to mean. The deal also gives the telco more of an entry into the US to sell its messaging, voice and Internet of Things solutions.

“TeleSign has a strong business with annual revenues of around $100 million built on security and on a pedigree of innovation, with a strong portfolio of global customers,” said TeleSign’s CEO Aled Miles, who will continue to head up the business.

“Combining our technology with BICS’ global carrier footprint, mobile operator reach and strong experience, puts us in a class by ourselves. Being the industry’s first end-to-end CPaaS means we can offer an unmatched level of business communications as we help organizations grow, engage and secure their end-users anywhere in the world.”