Pattern Matched

REACHING AFRICANS WITH REVERSE BILLED DATA

Delivering Excellence Beyond Exception™ Pattern Matched Technologies™ is committed to reaching one billion people across Africa on reverse billed data. We find out more with the product development company’s executive team Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

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s the CEO of Pattern Matched Technologies™ (PMT™) for the last 15 years, Markus Schorn (MS) has had the privilege to be part of creating and morphing the vision of the company.

“In the case of PMT™, the common vision and mission has been incredibly consistent – that through the careful and ethical use of technology, the lives of billions of people can be irrevocably improved,” he opens.

The idea of financial inclusion has been bandied about for decades when looking at any developing country.

Even South Africa was seen in this light in terms of banking its citizens

and enabling ecosystems that empower individuals to create and accelerate their capacity to originate and consume financial instruments and services, including transactional accounts and more meaningful use of their mobile devices.

“Technology should never represent more than 15 percent of the solution cost, and to be effective, should be as transparent and frictionless to the owner and user of the technology platform in every way possible” – MS

About PMT™ PMT™ is a product development company that was founded over two decades ago.

Built with a key focus on delivering innovation and low costs across multiple industry types, but with a keen focus on the intersection between the mobile and financial sectors, PMT™ has been the first to market over the years with many essential products that enable corporate and consumer solutions at scale.

The company is primarily focused on its trademarked products, in which Obsidian™ is its leading product brand.

PMT™ has always been committed and driven to delivering a service of excellence beyond expectations without exception. This has translated into the company being an award-winning software developer well known for its critical innovations in mobile banking, remittance wallets and debit cards, value-added service delivery, and mobile banking security solutions.

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Markus Schorn, CEO of Pattern Matched Technologies™

As a long-time technology originator, the mission of PMT™ was always to create and build opportunities by innovating in the valuable intersection between the mobile and financial sectors, empowering people in their own journey to financial and identity upliftment.

“PMT™ has striven to put the consumer first, often taking industry stands to partner with large players such as mobile network operators and banks, and in so doing, driving down the costs of using the technology as well as bearers such as mobile-originated data and transaction fees” – MS

cloud-scale service providers.

PMT™ continues to pioneer solutions in African markets such as mobile-linked wallets (mobile money), prepaid and other electronic switching services such Being one of the first in South Africa as cross-border remittance, debit to launch commercial unstructured card switchingservice and many more. supplementary data (USSD) PMT™ continues to innovate services over 20 years ago, PMT™inhas Mobilemillions Network Operator (MNO) enabled of consumers to gain service delivery, such as launching access to legacy environments such asthe banking and retail institutions, to pioneering product name just two.

Operator-grade Obsidian™ for PMT™ pioneers solutions in African standard-rated, zero-rated and markets such as mobile-linked reverse-billed mobile data in app wallets, prepaid services, and other and website applications. PMT electronic switching services such as continues to innovate in delivering cross-border remittance, debit card African solutions significantly switching, and manythat more. contribute to building financial and The company likewise continues to financial transactability innovate in identity mobile network operatorfor the continent.

In the such 20 years of (MNO) service delivery, as with the launchof ofthe thesteadfast Obsidian™vision, Service service Connectivity Platform (Obsidian™), PMT™ is well one the way to a pioneering product serving 1operator-grade billion people in sectors for standard-rated, zero-rated, and such as MNO, Financial services, reverse-billed mobile data in app and national retailers and many more website applications. in countries across the African PMT™ also delivers innovative continent and that beyond!

African solutions significantly

PATTERN MATCHED TECHNOLOGIES™ Obsidian™ combined with our TECHNOLOGY

Henning Viljoen, Managing Director of Pattern Matched Technologies™

Obsidian™ is Mobile Operator agnostic, built on AWS and cloud-hosted components. As a result, it provides and facilitates the enablement of Reverse Billed URL (Sponsored Data) services Henning Viljoen, Managing Director of Pattern across allMatched Mobile Operators and Technologies™ various aggregated service providers across multiple “In line with our company Territories as a Service dream,Platform. we continue Connectivity expanding our services across Africa with “InObsidian™ line with taking our Company the Dream, we continue charge to change people’s expanding services lives throughour technology, making difference acrossaAfrica with and the reaching one billion people Obsidian™ Service across Africa” – HV Connectivity Platform

contribute to building financial identity Managingfor Growth transactability the continent, and is Henning Viljeon, PMT’sone Managing well on the way to serving billion Director adds “PMT™ has been a people in sectors such as MNOs, pioneer for services such as financial services, national retailers, and many more countries across the Reverse billedin(Sponsored) USSD African continent and beyond. since 2011, NI (Push USSD), Sim

taking the charge to Securitisation since 2013, and change people’s lives MANAGING GROWTH born, offering a more enriched and Reverse billing of Data URLs Technology, Henning Viljeon (HV), Managing secure through reverse billing and zero-rating (Sponsored Data) since 2014. In Director, adds that “PMT™ has been a datamaking service.” a difference and 2020, PMT™ substantially invested pioneer for services such as reverse Obsidian™ isreaching mobile operator in creating our solution envisioned billed (sponsored) USSD since 2011, agnostic, built on AWS and cloud1 billion people across in 2017 solve fundamental Push USSDto and sim for securitisation hosted components. As a result, Africa.”

- HV identified features not catered for since 2013, and reverse billed data it provides and facilitates the through traditional reversed URLs since the 2014.

“In 2020, PMT™ substantially billing solutions.

The Obsidian™ invested creating our solution ServiceinConnectivity Platform was envisioned in 2017a to solve for born, offering more enriched and fundamental identified features not secure Reverse Billing (Sponsored catered for through traditional reverse Data) and ZeroRating™ Data billing solutions. Thus, Obsidian™ was Service.”

enablement of reverse billed URL services across MNOs service and various Alongside ourall trusted aggregated service providers offerings (Pattern Matched across multiple territories Obsidian™ as a serviceis an Technologies™), connectivity platform.

Enterprise core-grade service Alongside its trusted service offering positioned for enterprise offerings, Obsidian™ is an enterprise

Secure Messaging and Sim Securitisation service, is perfectly positioned by design to solve core-grade service offering real-worldfor challenges positioned enterpriseenabling banking,an Enterprise to add an extra layer of MNOs, Internet of Things (IoT) security and authentication to the operators, and cloud-scale service transaction through providers.

Combined with mechanisms suchthe ascompany’s secure messaging Customer and and sim securitisation Device Lock service, Obsidian™ is perfectly Down / Secure positioned by design Notification to solve real-world (Replacement challenges, of OTP SMS) enabling an deterring enterprise fraudsters to add an fromlayer of extra security and targeting authentication Customers to the transaction using your through trusted Digital mechanisms such Channels. as device lockdowns and secure notifications, PMT™ has many more deterring fraudsters from exciting services detailed targeting customers using their further on our website. trusted digital channels.

“The sim securitisation "The SSV Service wasand born verification (SSV) service was out of our passion for solving born out of our passion for real-world problems and solving real-world problems providing solutions that and providing solutions that change people's lives through change people’s lives through technology." technology” – HV - HV PMT™ has many more exciting services detailed on its website.

OUR EXPERIENCE SPANS OVER

OurProducts Products and Our andSolution!

Solution! sapphire

™

Reverse Billed URL Gateway

Africa Outlook Issue 107 | 3

E M P OW E R I N G D I G I TA L Empowering Digital T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

Transformation “Obsidian™ is a secure “Obsidian™ Secure foundation forAdigital Foundation for Digital connectivity” – PJVR

Connectivity”- PJVR

“Central to the mission of PMT™ are Obsidian™ represents PMT's two flagship platforms: Obsidian™ and commitment to providing a secure Emerald™, both powered by Amazon and reliable service connectivity Web Services (AWS), delivering platform. Built on AWS, Obsidian™ Pieter Janse van Rensburg, Chief unparalleled security, scalability, and Technology Officer of Pattern Matched offers enterprises a comprehensive reliability to clients across Africa,” he Technologies™ solution for managing and states.

PMT's Obsidian™ and deploying digital services with Obsidian™ represents the confidence, offering scaling models Emerald™ Platforms on AWS company’s commitment to providing Pieter Janse van Rensburg, Chief Technology of unlimited instances with the “PMT™ stands at the forefront of a secure and reliable service Officer of Pattern Matched Technologies™ capability to process and securitise digital innovation, offering connectivity platform. unlimited amounts of data.

With cutting-edge solutions to address Built on AWS, Obsidian™ gives features such as real-time evolving challenges in today's OBSIDIAN™ AND EMERALD™ enterprises a comprehensive solution integrationand anddeploying robust security dynamic landscape. Central to PLATFORMS for managing digital measures, Obsidian™ empowers PMT's mission are two of flagship PMT™ stands at the forefront services with confidence, offering organisations to streamline platforms: Obsidian™ and Emerald scaling digital innovation, offering cuttingmodels with the capability operations enhance customer edge solutions to address and and securitise unlimited ™, both powered byevolving Amazon Web to process experiences. challenges in today’s amounts of data.

Services (AWS),dynamic delivering landscape.

With features such as real-time unparalleled security, scalability, One of Obsidian™'s standout Pieter Janse van Rensburg integration and robust security and reliability to clients(PJVR), across features is its ability to detect and CTO ofAfrica.

PMT™,Let’s delves into the key measures, Obsidian™ empowers delve into the key prevent fraudulent activities, components organisations to streamline components that make PMT a thanks to seamless integration make PMT™ operations and enhance customer trusted partnerthat in safeguarding with PMT's SIM Securitisation and a trusted partner experiences. and empowering cloud in safeguarding One of the standout features of Verification (SSV) Service.

By environments.” states van and Obsidian™ is itsAWS's abilityadvanced to detect and leveraging Rensburg, PMT’s CTO. empowering prevent fraudulent activities, thanks security capabilities, Obsidian™ cloud to seamless theofPMT™ providesintegration clients withwith peace environments.

SSVmind, service. knowing that their digital

assets are protected against

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By leveraging AWS’ advanced security capabilities, Obsidian™ threats like SIM swaps, phishing, provides clients with peace of mind, and unauthorised access. knowing that their digital assets are protected against threats like SIM Emerald™: Revolutionising swaps, phishing, and unauthorised Value-Added Service access.

Distribution

EMERALD™: REVOLUTIONISING Complementing Obsidian™ is VALUE-ADDED Emerald™, PMT's SERVICE real-time DISTRIBUTION value-added service distribution Complementing Obsidian™ is platform.

Emerald™, a real-time value-added service distribution platform.

“With billions of

“With billions of transactions transactions processed for processed formobile bankstelcos, and banks and mobile telcos,has Emerald™ Emerald™ becomehas become synonymous with synonymous with reliability reliability and efficiency” and efficiency. ”- PJVR – PJVR Now, PMT™ is taking Emerald™ to Now, PMT™ is taking Emerald™ to new heights by migrating it to the new heights by migrating it to the AWS cloud to expand its reach and AWS cloud to expand its reach and capabilities. capabilities.

G

PATTERN MATCHED TECHNOLOGIES™ TECHNOLOGY

As Emerald™ transitions to the cloud, clients can expect enhanced scalability, agility, and security. Leveraging AWS’ global infrastructure, Emerald™ will offer unparalleled uptime and performance, ensuring seamless service delivery even in the most demanding environments.

Additionally, AWS’ comprehensive security features will fortify Emerald™ against emerging threats, safeguarding sensitive data and transactions.

SECURITY AT THE CORE At the heart of PMT™ and its platforms lies a steadfast commitment to security. With AWS’ robust security infrastructure, PMT™ can uphold the highest standards of data protection

“Compliance, privacy, and adherence to best practices are nonnegotiable” – PJVR and compliance, earning the trust of clients and partners alike. From real-time fraud detection to secure data transmission, Obsidian™ and Emerald™ leverage AWS’ advanced security features to deliver unmatched levels of resilience and peace of mind.

LOOKING AHEAD

charge, PMT™ is poised to redefine the way enterprises connect with their customers and deliver value-added services. By harnessing the power of AWS and its robust infrastructure, scalability, and global network, PMT™ is paving the way for a more secure, scalable, and innovative digital ecosystem in Africa and beyond.

“Obsidian™ can scale to limited instances with the capability to process and securitise unlimited amounts of data” – PJVR

As PMT™ continues its journey of digital transformation, the future looks brighter than ever. With Obsidian™ and Emerald™ leading the

First Distribution (FD) has been a key player in the development of Obsidian™.

PMT™ has been working with AWS since 2015. Around the middle of 2020, the company realised it would gain a lot of added value from working with a local distributor. Thus, the partnership with FD was born.

As an AWS distributor and registered AWS partner, FD brings its expertise to the table, understanding the key products and services utilised by PMT™. This collaborative partnership leverages FD’s expertise to validate design decisions and conduct well-architected reviews for all AWS initiatives undertaken by PMT™.

As FD works with AWS and other partners, PMT™ gains access to more resources and a greater knowledge pool. FD has helped PMT™ to build out on the AWS technology so it can support clients with longer-lasting and better technology, providing scalability and longevity.

Contact FD on +27 11 540 2640 or via email at aws@firstdistribution.com to start building on AWS today.

GET IN TOUCH WITH US Let’s start a project together +027 11 541 0441

www.patternmatched.com

info@patternmatched.com

Africa Outlook Issue 107 | 5

PATTERN MATCHED TECHNOLOGIES™ Xxxxxxx Tel: xxxxxx email www

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