Page 48 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

MENA and Central Asian Telecom Stakeholders Address Policy and

Cybersecurity Standards at MWC Shanghai 2024

Huawei announced that MENA and Central Asian telecoms
stakeholders came together at a roundtable during MWC Shanghai
2024, the leading connectivity event in the Asia Pacific region. The
session, ‘Middle East and Central Asia ICT Policy and Governance
Forum’, took place and was moderated by the GSMA, bringing
together regulators and operators from the Middle East, North
Africa, and Central Asia. The stakeholders included senior officials
from the China Academy of Information and Communications
Technology and Huawei to discuss industry policies, successful
practices, and valuable insights on key industry trends. Themed
"Driving Policy and Innovation to Shape Our Digital Future,"
the forum discussed the importance of spectrum, optical, and
datacom policy planning and explored how carriers, enterprises,
oversight agencies, and regulators can enhance mobile security VR and high-definition streaming. This digital upgrade is crucial
capabilities and provide guidance for risk management strategies. to support the development of the regional ICT industry while
The meeting also sought to promote the adoption of GSMA's ensuring a smooth user experience. Operators in the MENA
Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS) and region especially need to improve their optical fiber networks to
Mobile Cybersecurity Knowledge Base (MCKB). Attendees also ensure homes and offices have the speed and stability for these
reviewed industry policies and best practices, with examples advancements. The Cybersecurity Session focused on building a
from China's successful use cases. At the forum, Mr. Jeff Wang, Telecom-Information Security Management System (T-ISMS) to
President of the Public Affairs and Communications Department, manage current cybersecurity issues facing telcos globally. The
Huawei, said, "To fully reap digital dividends, we need to pay more session covered key topics such as the roles and responsibilities
attention to enhancing connectivity, embracing digital application, of telecom cybersecurity for various stakeholders, implementing
and empowering digital talent." NESAS demonstrates how holistic telecom cybersecurity with collaboration between
global collaborative efforts can address cybersecurity, offering stakeholders and how regulatory authorities can promote telecom
a standardized assessment mechanism jointly defined by GSMA cybersecurity. Robust national network development strategies,
and 3GPP. It serves as a fundamental security baseline, developed aligned with visions and key industries, are crucial for MENA. The
in accordance with security standard guidelines pertaining to growing demand for advanced services necessitates network
vendors' product development and lifecycle processes. NESAS upgrades, vital for ambitious projects like Saudi Arabia's 10Gbs
is valuable to both operators and vendors and is intended to be Society. Supportive policies from governments will incentivize
used alongside other mechanisms to ensure network security carriers and enterprises to invest in infrastructure optimization.
throughout its lifecycle. MCKB seeks to help stakeholders manage Joining the session, Mr. Lin Yanqing, Principal Consultant, Industry
risks in the 5G ecosystem by providing essential insights for Policy Public & Government Affairs, Huawei Technologies, and
their risk management strategy and guidance covering best Mr. Aloysius Cheang, Chief Security Officer, Huawei Middle East
practices and risk mitigation measures. The framework offers and Central Asia, reiterated that Huawei has taken a proactive
clear instructions for taking step-by-step actions to build security approach to telecom cybersecurity standardization. Cheang said,
assurance while considering the entire risk spectrum of mobile end- “As we chart our journey into the digital future, cybersecurity must
to-end networks. It aims to enhance mobile security competencies safeguard the trust and resiliency of the network, the cyberspace,
and capabilities, strengthening the work of carriers, enterprises, and the metaverse where data is the new oil as organizations'
oversight agencies, and regulators. assets are increasingly digitalized or virtualized. We must ensure
A focus on policy implementation and cybersecurity that we continue to embrace the culture of openness, transparency,
The forum featured two sessions focused on policy implementation and collaboration. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and together
and cybersecurity. The ICT Policy Implementation session with GSMA, we can leverage their good work, such as NESAS
explored spectrum planning for 5G and 5G-A networks, universal and MCKB, that will lay the foundation to secure broadband, 5G,
service funds (USF) and policies to promote mobile connectivity 5G-A, and beyond.” The executives explained that Huawei works
in rural areas, strengthening regulation of mobile and fixed with the GSMA, the ITU, the 3GPP, and others, as well as through
networks to improve digital economy foundations. The session partnerships with security organizations and companies, to ensure
provided recommendations for various countries, such as UAE, the security of its customers and promote the healthy development
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iraq, based on their specific needs and of the mobile ecosystem. Huawei has passed NESAS/SCAS 2.0
achievements in these areas.More than 50 countries globally are evaluations for its 5G base station and NESAS audits for its RAN
investing in super-fast optical fiber networks and Giga broadband and core network, demonstrating the company's commitment to
to handle the network demands from future technologies like AR/ cybersecurity.

48 MAY-JUNE 2024