Lifecycle Software launches telecom compliance consultancy

Lifecycle Software has launched a Compliance Consultancy Service for mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operators. The offering is designed to help telecom providers build compliance into their operations.

It targets operators facing growing regulatory scrutiny as they adopt AI, cloud services and outsourced technology. These shifts are creating new demands around data handling, security, governance and accountability.

Lifecycle Software, a supplier of business support systems and MVNE software to telecom operators, is positioning the consultancy around what it calls compliance by design. The aim is to link regulatory obligations to day-to-day processes and customer interactions, rather than treat compliance as a separate exercise.

At the centre of the service is an "obligation map" that links regulatory requirements to each stage of the customer journey. It is intended to show operators how rules on data protection, customer identity verification, security and information retention translate into practical controls and workflows.

The launch reflects a broader shift in the telecom sector, where operators are under pressure to show not just that policies exist, but that they work in practice. As providers automate more customer interactions and rely more on third-party technology, compliance is increasingly tied to customer trust.

The consultancy will provide tailored support across data protection, security, customer identity verification and information security. It is also aimed at both established operators and new market entrants that may lack in-house compliance expertise.

Coverage includes the Telecommunications Security Act, data protection rules, Know Your Customer processes and ISO/IEC 27001. The service is intended to help operators identify which requirements apply to their business and how to address them across systems and operational processes.

Peter Berry, Head of Compliance at Lifecycle Software, outlined the company's view of the challenge facing operators.

"As the telecoms industry adopts new technologies and increasingly automated ways of serving customers, we believe that the ability to demonstrate responsible practices will be fundamental to maintaining trust," said Berry. "Embedding compliance into the design of services and operations, making it part of their DNA, gives operators a practical foundation for that trust as their businesses evolve, not to mention avoiding the additional time, resource and cost of addressing requirements retrospectively."

Operator demands

Compliance has become more complex for mobile operators and MVNOs, partly because they often span multiple jurisdictions, supplier relationships and technology platforms. Greater use of cloud infrastructure and external service providers can also raise questions about where data sits, how it is processed and who is accountable when regulatory obligations are shared across different parties.

For MVNOs in particular, compliance can be closely tied to customer acquisition and lifecycle management. Checks around identity verification, fraud prevention, data retention and erasure can all affect how smoothly customers join, use and leave a service.

Lifecycle Software said its consultancy draws on more than 30 years of work with telecom operators. It added that the service is intended to provide knowledge, guidance and tools, while responsibility for meeting regulatory obligations remains with the operator.

One example is Coop Mobile Channel Islands, which used Lifecycle Software during an MVNO launch across two jurisdictions.

"During our recent MVNO launch, Lifecycle Software helped us navigate two different sets of regulatory requirements across Jersey and Guernsey. This included implementing KYC processes for identity verification, advising on the secure handling and retention of sensitive customer information, and supporting with GDPR-related requirements around data erasure. Their experience and advice were invaluable," said David McGrath, Chief Marketing Officer at Coop Mobile Channel Islands.

Market context

The move also highlights how software suppliers to the telecom industry are expanding beyond core operational systems into advisory services linked to regulation and risk. Operators are under pressure to adapt systems and customer journeys to changing rules without adding unnecessary friction for users.

That is especially relevant in mobile, where customer onboarding, tariff selection, account management and cancellation are increasingly digital. Mapping legal and regulatory obligations to those interactions can help operators identify where system changes or additional controls may be needed before problems arise.

By focusing on the customer journey, Lifecycle Software is seeking to tie compliance more closely to commercial and operational decision-making. In practice, that means rules such as KYC and data retention are treated as part of service design rather than checks added after launch.

The consultancy is part of a wider telecoms trend towards proving operational resilience and responsible data use as regulators pay closer attention to security, privacy and governance. "By making these obligations visible within operational workflows, operators can see why specific processes, controls and system functions are required, helping them build compliance into their services and provide greater assurance that customer information and interactions are being handled appropriately," the company said.