LatAm Telecom Operator VIVA Goes Live on Avalanche-Based Network Iris

According to CoinDesk, Latin American telecom operator VIVA has become the first carrier to go live on the Iris network. Iris is an Avalanche-based telecom settlement network founded by Jules Miller, a former IBM blockchain partner, that helps carriers integrate identity, billing, and distribution systems into financial services without replacing existing telecom infrastructure. VIVA has operated in Bolivia for over 25 years and recently expanded into the Mexican market.

VIVA uses USDi, a US dollar stablecoin issued by stablecoin infrastructure firm Agora, for transaction settlement and can hold eligible operating reserves in US dollars rather than local currency. Iris runs on a dedicated Avalanche Layer 1 to control settlement, operations, and compliance requirements. Iris launched with $43 million in committed funding from Balesia Group, a family office with telecom operations in the Americas.

Ava Labs Chief Business Officer John Nahas said Iris's initial expansion will focus on Latin America, along with select African and Asian markets. He noted that the super-app product used by VIVA has reduced prepaid mobile user churn by 33% and increased user lifetime value by 35%. Iris is currently in talks with more global telecom carriers to add additional operators and services.