Global digital security company Gemalto's announcement that over three billion mobile phonebook contacts across the Middle East and Africa region are now being saved through its LinqUs Cloud Backup solution included an endorsement for the usefulness of such a service for mobile operators.

The company says the solution is currently deployed by 22 different mobile network operators in the region, 90% of which have opted for Gemalto's fully operated service in SaaS mode.

Eric Claudel, President for Africa & Middle East at Gemalto says,"The combination of a field proven solution with our extensive experience in managing platforms on behalf of customers ensures that we can readily replicate and share best practice and expertise. With 9 out of 10 of our clients in the region opting for the Gemalto-operated-service solution, it is clear we are increasingly recognised as a strategic partner that can support particularly dynamic business development plans."

According to Gemalto the latest figures show that the number of subscribers who no longer have to worry about losing touch with friends, family or business contacts if their phone is lost or stolen has doubled in the last two to over 40 million as more mobile networks sign up for use of their service.

The LinqUs Cloud Backup solution, the company says, is accessible to the entire subscriber base of the mobile network operators and will eliminate the dramatic fall in traffic that occurs when phone users have to rebuild their address book from scratch on a new handset. This would mean that mobile operator profits are not diminished by such an eventuality.

"Protecting and restoring contacts also significantly strengthens the bond between the mobile operator and the subscriber," said the company in a statement.

Mobile operators who deploy Gemalto's LinqUs Cloud Backup solution are given the choice between an on-premise platform and a fully hosted cloud-based service which provides equal levels of security.