Mobile networks are still an important goal for cyberspace violations, and the persistent attacks of the Chinese Hacking Typhoon team on many carriers are only the latest known examples.
The start of mobile carrier Cape It is getting a new approach to addressing the problem: it has created a service that says it can offer a safer, private alternative because it does not collect any data for you. Even its website has no biscuit gate. On Wednesday, Cape announces some major developments in its efforts.
The Washington-based company, founded by a former head of Palantir’s National Security Company, who has previously worked in the US Army Special Forces-releases an open beta of MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), which comes in a $ 99/month/month/month. It has reduced a collaboration with Proton, the provider of encrypted email services, VPN and cloud. And has raised $ 30 million more in debt funding and funding.
$ 30 million is divided as $ 15 million into shares treated in Series B by A*, Costanoa, Point72 and Xyz. Another $ 15 million comes in the form of a debt unit by Silicon Valley Bank. This brings the share of the B series to $ 55 million, with the initial $ 40 million announced in April 2024 led by Andreessen Horowitz.
Cape does not reveal the valuation, but it is noteworthy that funding comes at a time when newly formed services that make military, defense and security services achieve focus and priority at a time when geopolitics are shifting.
While many of these shifts play at a much higher level including wars, espionage against officers and officials, and important contacts between oversized industrial entities, Cape products and its development is one of the rare examples of how some of this development is playing at consumer level.
This does not mean that all Cape products are for everyday people. The new plan comes in the company’s heels last year that emerges from Stealth with $ 61 million and starting a $ 1,500 phone called The The The Carvingwhich was expressly designed for military and government people and others like them. “Those who face increased threats,” according to the company’s words. In January 2025, the Cape made its first move to launch a consumers service. All open sockets in this closed beta are filled in four hours.
Managing Director John Doyle, who founded the company with Nicholas Espinoza (who is the head of R&D), said the rapid pace of registration indicates that “very interesting from the wider consumer market, the people who have a general desire to take back to their protection. networks but do not want to invest in the level required by Oppont, ”
In addition to one commitment To avoid watching or selling data, the design includes unlimited voice minutes, texts and data (but there is no voice via Wi-Fi, Doyle said, it is still coming), as well as encrypted voicemail.
As part of its plan, the Cape also provides protection from two other emerging cell threats. The first of these is the protection against the SIM exchange, using cryptographic protection to keep someone from the hijacking of your number.
And offers what it describes as “advanced signal protection”, which refers to the side channel attacks via telephony signaling protocol Signaling System 7. Monitoring through SS7 has been a well -known issue for years, but in December 2024 it was emphasized by the US government as a special issue for sensitive calls, texts and data, which could have access to spies from military and other staff using the protocol.
Doyle added that the general availability for her phone plan will come later this year. There are fewer than 1,000 users in their closed beta and a few hundred Obscura phone owners.
The Cape service is anchored in USCELLULAR and the plan is to import roaming services to its users to expand to other countries, as well as to introduce MNVO -based plans in other countries.
Europe has been shown to be a big market for the first privacy services, as well as those that provide alternatives for participation with large technology. This has led to applications such as climbing a signal at the top of app stores in at least one European market. This could present an interesting managing market for a boot like Cape.
Cape leans in this European tendency for private life in another way in the meantime. Just as mainstream carriers want to link marketing partnerships with Buzzy Consumer Services to drive more recordings-a recent example that is T-Mobile ink of a “AI phone” collaboration-Cape does the same with uniform privacy companies. First outside the door is a deal with Switzerland based in Proton to lead the records of the latest company bids (paid). Those enrolled in a $ 99/month Cape program can pay $ 1 to add six months Unlimited Design, which includes encrypted cloud storage, VPN, expanded secure e-mail and more.
“We did a really quite rigorous research in the field and we believe Proton is the clear leader in terms of credibility and how advanced their technology is and the way the problems approach [of privacy]”Doyle said, described the offer as” the first issue “of a corporate relationship between the two companies.
