Cuentas Targets Israeli Diaspora with New U.S. Mobile Service

MIAMI BEACH, FL – March 02, 2026 – Cuentas Inc. has launched a specialized mobile service aimed directly at the heart of the Israeli diaspora and traveler community in the United States. Through its 51%-owned subsidiary, World Mobile LLC, the company has initiated a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) service for customers of the Israel-based carrier Hallo 015, offering a seamless U.S. connectivity solution for those traveling to or living in the country.

The new offering provides U.S. voice, text, and high-speed data services, designed to eliminate the high costs and complexities often associated with international roaming or temporary SIM cards. This move signals a deliberate strategy by Cuentas to carve out a niche in the competitive U.S. telecom market by serving specific, high-value international communities.

A Strategic Play for a High-Value Niche

The partnership between Cuentas and Hallo 015 is a calculated maneuver to tap into a well-defined and growing market. The United States is home to a significant Israeli-American population, with estimates placing the community at over 190,000 residents, concentrated in states like New York and California. Beyond permanent residents, the flow of travelers from Israel is substantial and poised for significant growth.

Annually, around 450,000 Israelis travel to the U.S. for business, tourism, and education. This figure is expected to climb, partly due to Israel's inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in late 2023, which simplifies short-term travel. This expanding demographic of travelers, students, business professionals, and long-term residents often seeks cost-effective and reliable ways to stay connected without being locked into long-term contracts or paying exorbitant roaming fees.

Cuentas aims to fill this gap. “This launch represents another important milestone in CUENTAS’ strategy to build a global, interconnected MVNO ecosystem,” said Shalom Arik Maimon, Chief Executive Officer of Cuentas Inc., in a statement. “Through World Mobile, we are creating strategic international partnerships that empower consumers with affordable, high-quality connectivity wherever they travel or reside.”

By targeting Hallo 015's existing subscriber base, Cuentas gains immediate access to a pre-qualified audience that has an inherent need for cross-border communication. The strategy bypasses the high customer acquisition costs typical of the broader consumer market, focusing instead on a hyper-niche where tailored services can command strong loyalty.

Redefining Connectivity Beyond Roaming

For decades, international travelers have navigated a frustrating landscape of expensive daily roaming passes or the inconvenience of purchasing local SIM cards upon arrival. Major U.S. carriers offer solutions like T-Mobile’s International Passes or Verizon’s TravelPass, but these can quickly become costly for extended stays. The Cuentas-Hallo 015 offering presents a more integrated alternative.

Operating as an MVNO, World Mobile LLC does not own the physical network infrastructure but rather leases access from a major carrier. Research indicates that Cuentas' MVNO services are powered by an agreement with UVNV, Inc. (operating as Plum), a Mobile Virtual Network Aggregator that utilizes T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network. This foundation provides the new service with a reliable and high-speed backbone across the U.S., a critical factor for user satisfaction.

The partnership also leverages the expertise of Hallo 015, an Israeli telecom operator founded in 2008 that specializes in advanced international voice solutions. While the company faced challenges with an earlier attempt to launch MVNO services in Israel's crowded market over a decade ago, it has since established itself as a stable, profitable provider for international enterprises. The press release highlights Hallo 015's use of “AI-powered communication systems,” suggesting a focus on intelligent call routing and optimized voice quality to enhance the user experience.

The Vertically Integrated Vision: Content Meets Connectivity

This initiative is more than just a new mobile plan; it is a cornerstone of Cuentas' broader corporate transformation. The company has been strategically pivoting from a primary focus on FinTech towards becoming a vertically integrated communications and entertainment platform. The Hallo 015 partnership serves as a live case study for this ambitious vision.

A key differentiator of the new service is the inclusion of exclusive entertainment content. Cuentas and Hallo 015 plan to offer special celebrity content, including concerts, special events, and entertainment news, through a dedicated streaming platform. This content will be exclusively available to Hallo 015 subscribers in both the U.S. and Israel, creating a powerful incentive for user adoption and retention.

This content strategy is driven by another Cuentas subsidiary, World Mobile Media Group LLC. This entity is building a media platform designed to deliver a mix of licensed and original programming, monetized through pay-per-minute (PPM), pay-per-event (PPE), and ad-supported models. By bundling connectivity with culturally relevant content, Cuentas aims to create a 'sticky' ecosystem that integrates into the daily lifestyle of its target audience. This model seeks to generate diversified revenue streams that go far beyond traditional mobile service fees.

A Bold Move Amidst Financial Headwinds

The launch represents a critical and forward-looking step for Cuentas, a company navigating significant financial challenges. Recent financial reports have shown declining revenue and negative earnings per share, underscoring the urgency for a successful strategic shift. The move into niche telecom and media markets is a calculated risk designed to unlock new growth avenues that the highly competitive FinTech space may no longer offer.

The company's commitment to this new direction was recently solidified when World Mobile Group Ltd., a partner in the World Mobile LLC subsidiary, converted debt into an approximately 18.5% equity stake in Cuentas Inc. This transaction deepens the strategic alliance and provides a vote of confidence in the integrated connectivity-and-content model.

By positioning itself as an enabling platform for international operators like Hallo 015 seeking U.S. market access, Cuentas is building a scalable business model. The success of this initial launch could pave the way for similar partnerships targeting other diaspora communities, transforming Cuentas into a global hub for specialized, borderless mobile experiences.