Telecom Cybersecurity in Focus at SAMENA Summit 2024

Leaders from various regions convened at the SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2024 to deliberate on bolstering telecom cybersecurity resilience. Sponsored by Huawei, in collaboration with the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and stc, a roundtable focused on cybersecurity was held during the summit in Dubai. Themed “Building Telecom Cyber Resilience to Protect Business in the Digital Era,” the session drew telecom operators, regulatory cyber experts, and decision-makers.

Headed by Mazen Al Ahmadi, General Manager of Cyber Defense at stc, the panel marked the second edition of Huawei’s Global Carrier CISO Roundtable series. Esteemed guests and speakers shared insights aimed at enhancing telecom cyber resilience and securing the digital realm.

As the world embraces digital transformation, the convergence of network-cloud-intelligence becomes vital. Driven by immersive digital experiences and widespread intelligent applications, network capabilities are continuously evolving. The roundtable emphasized the crucial role of cybersecurity and privacy protection in navigating this digital landscape.

Discussions addressed the significance of cyber resilience for innovative telecom operators amidst the rapid advancement of technologies like 5G and 5G-Advanced networks integrated with cloud and AI capabilities. Cloud security, strategies, tools, and regulatory support necessary for achieving resilience were also deliberated.

Mazen Al Ahmadi highlighted, “In today’s dynamic digital landscape, cybersecurity and privacy protection are paramount, particularly in the telecom sector.” He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to fortify the industry against cyber threats.

Mohammed Alosaimi, Chief Security Officer at Huawei Saudi Arabia, reiterated Huawei’s dedication to enhancing cybersecurity infrastructure, emphasizing collaboration with carriers and partners.

The panel further explored cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and challenges in securing legacy signaling systems versus modern IP-based networks. Cybersecurity use cases supporting telecom business success were also shared.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion on industry collaboration to address cybersecurity challenges, improve resilience, and adhere to international standards and guidelines.

Previously, the Global Carrier CISO Roundtable held at MWC2024 saw 50 carriers and industry organizations engaging in insightful discussions on enhancing digital trust and safeguarding the digital realm.

The SAMENA Telecommunications Council’s Leaders’ Summit 2024, themed “Evolving toward Integration, Intelligence & Sustainability in Infrastructure,” was held under the patronage of UAE’s TDRA, in collaboration with ITU, with stc and Huawei among the strategic partners.