According to the security service provider, which recently announced it had a billion users of its technology worldwide, the anti-abuse research initiative took in interviews with 35 mobile operators around the world.

Cloudmark says that spam has become a major problem for mobile network operators, with 93% of cellcos experiencing attacks in the last 12 months, and most reporting it to be a problem they have to deal with on a daily basis.

Researchers also found that 93% of operators expect mobile messaging abuse will increase via spam, phishing, viruses, spoofing, faking and flooding, in the year ahead.

The good news, however, is that 89% of cellcos are willing to working in collaboration for an industry-wide solution, with operators viewing the GSM Association (GSMA) - the organisers of Mobile World Congress - as having a role in addressing the problem of mobile spam.

According to Cloudmark, its research revealed that mobile abuse is a current and growing global issue and a collaborative effort is needed and supported by those member operators interviewed.

As part of the initiative, the GSMA is investigating solutions focused on protecting consumers, mobile operators and legitimate mobile marketers.

Hugh McCartney, Cloudmark's CEO, said that the global community of mobile end users and network operators that the GSMA represents is a top priority for us as a company.

"By approaching security issues as collective challenges for the community, we envision solutions in this area that will drive lasting, global progress", he said.

Cloudmark says it will publish the complete research findings this Thursday at the Mobile World Congress.