UBS has launched a cloud-based trader voice platform, which it says is one of the banking industry's first live deployments of cloud-native trader communications in a regulated trading environment.

The project, created in partnership with BT International, will see the telecoms giant’s specialist trading division, BT Trading & Command, provide a trader voice platform hosted in Microsoft Azure. UBS is using the platform to replace 20 separate trading systems with a single global solution spanning 17 countries.

The bank said more than 2,400 traders are already using the platform, with capacity to support additional users as the rollout continues.

Trader voice communications have traditionally remained on-premises because of strict requirements around resilience, performance, regulatory compliance and data sovereignty. UBS and BT said the deployment demonstrates that these workloads can now operate securely in the cloud while meeting regulatory obligations.

The platform provides encrypted voice communications, integrated recording and monitoring capabilities, and communication application server oversight middleware. It also enables UBS to meet local compliance requirements while ensuring data remains within each jurisdiction where required.

By consolidating multiple legacy systems into a single cloud-native platform, UBS said it expects to reduce operational complexity while creating a more flexible communications environment for its trading teams.

The added the new platform will also provide a foundation for future technologies, including AI-driven insights and automation, alongside a consistent communications experience for traders operating across global markets.

"BT was chosen as our preferred technology partner with the capability to deliver a fully integrated solution that meets our technical, regulatory and operational requirements," said Brandon Benson, managing director at UBS. "This ensures our traders have a robust, flexible and future-proof communication platform."

The Swiss bank is currently undergoing changes in other areas, too. It now faces stricter capital requirements imposed by the Swiss parliament, forcing it to hold up to $24 billion in additional capital if the regulation is passed.

On Sunday, Swiss newspaper Blick reported that multiple foreign banks, including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Standard Chartered, are exploring a merger or tie-up with UBS.

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