OneID®, the UK’s leading consumer-friendly digital identity verification service, is pleased to announce the launch of a uniquely seamless age verification solution for the UK market. This solution is designed to help enable the UK’s Online Safety Act and was developed with the support of the UK's leading mobile operators.
This seamless solution will greatly simplify the digital experience for millions of people across the UK, as the most popular websites come under enforcement from July 2025, and many of these must then offer age verification and identity services. This regulation, led by Ofcom in the UK, impacts the leading social media dating and gaming sites as well as others.
Today, the process of proving your age to the high standards set by the regulator Ofcom for Online Safety Act compliance can be slow, tedious and not inclusive. It typically involves scanning ID documents or requires the user to set up a digital wallet - steps that create friction, drive up costs for internet content providers, and lead to high user drop-off rates and dissatisfaction.
While some age estimation solutions offer a potential solution, they are not universally accepted by regulators due to their lack of absolute accuracy and concerns around user privacy.
Through collaboration with leading mobile operators, OneID® has extended its innovative identity verification platform - already providing UK users with a faster, easier, and document-free way to prove who they are - to now include real-time access to critical age data from the mobile operators.
The leading UK mobile operators have provided enhanced technology capabilities to deliver a seamless, privacy-preserving solution where individuals share only the minimum age-related data necessary to access the chosen content.
Now, in just a few clicks, consumers can confirm they are over 18 directly from their mobile device in under a second. This solution not only acts as a key enabler for compliance with the Online Safety Act but also plays a critical role in protecting children under 18 by significantly reducing their exposure to inappropriate content.
"We’re pleased to be working with OneID to help create a safer online environment for the UK. Protecting children online has long been a priority for EE, and as platforms prepare to meet Ofcom’s age verification requirements, our APIs deliver a seamless, low-friction experience, enabling customers to complete secure age checks with minimal disruption to their online journey."
Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Product, Mobile at EE
"Our age assurance tool offers customers a seamless, safe and convenient way to access age-restricted content without needing to scan and share personal documents. Through initiatives like this, we're making our customers' lives easier and helping them safely navigate the online world."
Matt Hemingway, Head of Network as a Service at Virgin Media O2
"Frictionless age verification is critical for businesses seeking compliance without compromising user experience. Age Verify delivers seamless age verification using trusted credentials from mobile operators."
Adri Loloci, Senior Product Manager, Vodafone
"Nearly one-third of global internet users are under 18, and many misrepresent their age to access restricted platforms. With enforcement of the Online Safety Act fast approaching, robust, privacy-preserving age verification is essential. As a leader in mobile intelligence, JT is proud to collaborate with leading industry partners to develop and deliver solutions that protect children online and help organisations meet their regulatory obligations."
Clare Messenger, Head of Mobile, Intelligence at JT Group
With the ability to verify the identity of over 50 million individuals, even those without identity documents, OneID® ensures that more people can access secure digital services and stay safe.
OneID’s solution is entirely privacy-preserving, with no storage of personal data and the sharing of only the minimum information by the consumer.
Now, an individual can link their verified details to their device and prove their identity or age, offering a one-click experience with their OneID Wallet.
At just the tap of the OneID® button, users can instantly share their age over 18 years across multiple sites accepting oneID.
With the OneID® Wallet, internet brands can now provide their customers with an ultra-streamlined and simplified verification and onboarding experience, reinforcing their commitment to security and user satisfaction, and ensuring compliance with the regulations set by Ofcom.
About EE
EE is one of the UK’s largest subscription businesses, backed by the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering super-fast connections in more places than any other operator.
Built on the foundation of decades of mobile and broadband leadership, EE is on a mission to be the most personal and customer-focused technology brand in the UK by playing a more meaningful role in customers’ lives, with a suite of exciting products and services open to all UK consumers, available via a new ‘EE ID’ digital platform.
EE’s mobile network continues to receive extensive recognition, including the UK's best overall network by RootMetrics® every year since 2014, as well as being named Network of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Industry Awards.
EE is committed to offering first-class service in the industry and has over 400 stores across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019.
EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards. EE won Best Repair Service and Best Network Provider at the Mobile Industry Awards in September 2023 and was recognised as the provider that does more than any other to deliver a great service.
EE is part of BT Group's Consumer business unit, which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK.
For more information on EE’s Digital Identity APIs, please visit EE's Developer Portal.
About Virgin Media O2
Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a fully gigabit broadband network.
The company has around 45 million UK connections across its award-winning broadband, mobile, TV and home phone services. Its fixed network covers more than half of the country (18.4m premises serviceable) alongside a mobile network that covers 99% of the nation’s population. The company is on track to bring 5G to all populated areas by end 2030 and already offers 5G outdoor coverage to more than 75% of the UK population.
Virgin Media O2 is upgrading its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028. Its shareholders and investment firm InfraVia Capital Partners, through a joint venture called nexfibre, are investing to build fibre to 2.5 million homes and businesses not currently served by Virgin Media O2’s network by the end of 2025. As a wholesale customer of this network, Virgin Media O2’s total footprint will reach around 80% of the UK once build and upgrade work is completed.
Through Virgin Media O2 Business, the company plays a leading role supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, enterprises and the public sector with their digital transformation through a range of connectivity, security, cloud and tailor-made services. It is also the network of choice for mobile virtual network operators giffgaff and Sky Mobile, as well as managing a 50:50 joint venture with Tesco for Tesco Mobile.
The company is committed to using the power of connectivity to make its better forpeople and the planet, taking action to close the digital divide and building an inclusive, resilient, and low carbon economy. The business has set an ambitious commitment to achieve net zero carbon across its operations, products and supply chain by the end of 2040.C2 General Virgin Media O2 is a 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses. Virgin Media O2 is registered in England and Wales. Registration number: 12580944. Virgin Media O2 Limited, 500 Brook Drive, Reading, RG2 6UU.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company.
We serve over 340 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the world’s internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. Vodafone runs one of the world’s largest IoT platforms, with 205 million IoT connections, and we provide financial services to around 88 million customers across seven African countries – managing more transactions than any other provider.
From the seabed to the stars, Vodafone’s purpose is to keep everyone connected.
For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com, follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup, or connect with us on LinkedIn.
About Jersey Telecom (JT Group)
JT is a government-owned communications provider based in the Channel Islands, delivering advanced messaging, identity, and CPaaS solutions to enterprises and mobile operators worldwide. With extensive expertise in mobile intelligence, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance, JT supports secure communications and digital transformation across highly regulated industries. By leveraging real-time data from global mobile networks, JT helps organisations combat APP fraud, SIM swap attacks, and account takeovers. Its solutions enable fast, secure identity verification and deliver real-time KYC insights—empowering institutions to fight financial crime and protect consumers in a digital-first world.
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About OneID®
OneID® is the only UK Identity Service that uses bank-verified data to create absolute certainty between a business and its customers in a fast, simple, secure and truly digital way.
Along with bank-verified data, we also offer businesses the flexibility to choose from trusted data sources like mobile network operators, government identity documents, and our own digital identity wallet—depending on the business and compliance needs they have to meet.
OneID®’s real-time verification solutions balance digital ease with the strongest counter-fraud measures. It seamlessly blends into the digital habits of today’s customers, enabling businesses to verify 98% of UK adults with minimal friction and maximum confidence.
In addition to identity verification, OneID® simplifies age verification, Direct Debit setup and customer and employee onboarding. By streamlining these processes, OneID® customers can comply with key regulations like the Online Safety Act, reduce operational costs, improve customer engagement, and drive growth.
OneID® is a government-certified, FCA-regulated, and a B Corp business committed to making the digital world safer. Headquartered in the UK, we’ve brought together experts in Digital Identity, Payments, Banking, Technology, and Government to help businesses build trust and security at scale
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