Volume 11, February, 2020 A SAMENA Telecommunications Council Publication www.samenacouncil.org S AMENA TRENDS FOR SAMENA TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL'S MEMBERS BUILDING DIGITAL ECONOMIES Distinguished New Leadership of SAMENA Council THIS MONTH NECESSITATING CYBERSECURITY VOLUME 11, FEBRUARY, 2020 Contributing Editors Knowledge Contributions Subscriptions Izhar Ahmad AdaptiveMobile Security [email protected] SAMENA Javaid Akhtar Malik Analysys Mason AT&T Advertising TRENDS CybelAngel [email protected] DT One Editor-in-Chief Zain Group SAMENA TRENDS Bocar A. BA [email protected] Publisher Tel: +971.4.364.2700 SAMENA Telecommunications Council CONTENTS 04 EDITORIAL FEATURED 17 REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES Members News Regional News 89 SATELLITE UPDATES Satellite News 07 SAMENA Council’s New 106 WHOLESALE UPDATES Leadership... 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EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS Necessitating Cybersecurity While we were working hard to master use- acts, including harvesting user log-in cases for 5G, mastering SARS-CoV-2 has information and exploitation of children suddenly caused an abrupt priority shift, and young people (CYP) online. bringing among other things cybersecurity to the forefront of our mitigative It seems most logical to practice and approaches. to communicate to industry peers that, in the wake of Covid-19 concerns, just Cyber threats, almost literally speaking, are as personal and environmental hygiene similar to Coronavirus-like attacks, which is the single most important thing one have recently emerged all around the world can ensure, a similar level of “hygiene” in the form of an unimaginable pandemic. is required in accessing and using data By the time this edition of Trends is out, it online. Any careless attempt to learn about will have taken more than two months for the virus or its cure can actually lead the the world to realize that an “attack” had user astray, causing an altogether different occurred. What follows next is the challenge type of infection. Bocar A. BA of responding to that occurrence, which will Chief Executive Officer & Board have taken many countries and numerous Mobile networks have made it possible to Member industries, including the Telecom Industry, utilize medical data in a targeted manner SAMENA Telecommunications by a surprise. by leveraging mobile technologies and thus Council has contributed toward raising awareness Responding to new viruses, whether as well as to help prepare the general cyber or biological, requires urgency, new public on how to curtail or slow down the approaches, a new knowledge base, an spread of pandemic infections. Thus it all-integrated emergency management is now more important than ever before strategy, complemented by introduction that cybersecurity take a central role in of a myriad of on-the-ground physical our strategy to not only protect corporate changes. Among the swiftest actions networks, or digital infrastructure from taken by organizations in reaction to the intrusion, or ward off against other forms current health crisis, remote working and of manipulation of systems or humans remote learning have become the new through digital means, but also to protect norms, almost overnight. However, there the general public against falsehood. is a major challenge that this approach inherently carries: This places a much Discernment of real news from fake and greater responsibility on the organizations propaganda-driven information, or to as well as the employees, and students, to be able to identify truthful information safeguard information and data; both their carrying deceptive or malicious intent, is own and the organizations’. Everything a major challenge that every single one of in the name of Coronavirus, causing both us has been exposed to, and is witnessing panic; opportunistically distracting end- first-hand as we deal with the prevailing users; and exploiting the unwary users real-life global health crisis. Undoubtedly, online, is possible. Exploitative acts the complexity of the current digital range from overpriced sale of sanitizers ecosystem, access to the networks, and to phishing emails and more malicious numerous uses of the communication 4 FEBRUARY 2020 EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS infrastructure, inherently make networks threaten the well-being of network users, While the healthcare sector tries to find and data security a daunting challenge. the challenge of security has a direct cure for SARS-CoV-2, we as Industry Recall that the modern influx of data, and bearing on the Operators’ ability to create can help prepare and manage many the most suddenly caused directly or and foster trust-building in the digital aspects of the Coronavirus challenge indirectly due to current health concerns, space, fulfill both ICT and health policy by viewing cybersecurity not as a novel is not just driven by the users, but by and regulatory demands, for example, and issue but rather by making it part of partners, third-party service providers, and conduct business and investment planning our own governance, risk management, just about anyone having access to and in a sustainable manner, while satisfying and continuity framework, as well as using the Telecom Operators’ networks. their own shareholders to approve further by promoting the same level of urgency infrastructure investments. for security aspects to be in place to the However, cybersecurity measures, if taken healthcare sector, financial sector, travel coherently, have the power to sustain Ultimately, all of this has a direct impact on and tourism sector and, most importantly, positivity and hope, and both curtail and our collective ability to fulfill the Sustainable the information and media sector - the fight false information that feeds negativity Development Goals (SDGs), including latter holding the power to make or break and hopelessness in the wake of real-life global health objectives set forth under our inner strengths to deal with challenges challenges, such as the new Coronavirus. SDG 3. These are a matter of important to like the Coronavirus pandemic. With our ripening 5G capabilities companies, governments, and institutions and technologies, including Artificial alike. Through state-level incentivization Lastly, as our children remain home and Intelligence, we certainly have sufficient of cybersecurity implementation, many continue their learning, they are more means and tools available to us but we co-related issues can be addressed, such exposed to online threats even under our need to work toward speedily implementing as the online safety of young citizens own eyes, and it is important that, while (and not just discussing) identifiable and and children, and proliferation of digital keeping the health protection aspect of the practicable cybersecurity measures. The services in the financial, education, and current health situation in mind, we also Internet’s information pathways, just like medical sectors. remain fully cognizant of the