Page 63 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Danes Raise Telecom Security Threat Levels to “High”

In what is technically the first public
warning by a European government agency,
the Danish Agency for Society Security or
Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed (SAMSIK)
has raised the threat of cyber espionage
against the Danish telecoms sector from
“medium” to “high” in its latest report.
This is due to increased activity from
state-sponsored hacker groups against
the European telecoms sector. Since the
agency’s last cyber threat assessment for
the telecoms sector, the threat picture for
the telecoms sector has become more
serious. As a result, telecoms and ISPs in
Denmark must also be aware of attempted
cyber attacks from foreign states,
according to the agency. In addition, it said
the threat was raised for destructive cyber
attacks against Denmark to “medium” in telecoms providers in Europe. The report call data, internet traffic, customer data and
June 2024 and for cyber activism to “high” highlights China, Russia and Iran as foreign location data. The report says states are
in January 2023. Both threat levels levels states that “continuously use their cyber interested in this type of data because it
also apply to the telecoms sector. The capabilities to carry out cyber espionage can be used to monitor the communication
threat from cybercrime to the telecoms against the telecoms sector worldwide”. and travel activities of individuals or groups
sector also remains “very high”, including This is mainly because through cyber of people. For example, China continuously
from ransomware attacks. In the past, cyber espionage against telecoms and internet attempts to monitor the Chinese diaspora
espionage has mainly targeted telecoms service providers, they can gain access to in general and dissidents in particular,
providers in Asia and the Middle East, large amounts of data about customers’ use including minorities such as Uyghurs and
but now it is also increasingly targeting of the provider’s infrastructure, including Tibetans.

Bangladesh Plans Major Telecoms Policy Overhaul to Embrace Digital

The Bangladesh government is reportedly necessary to improve telecom service “will be meaningful and policies will
planning a major overhaul to the country’s quality, the report said. “The government undergo a thorough transformation,” the
telecoms policy to speed up its transition is determined to dismantle policies that report said. Telecom policy expert Mustafa
to a digital economy and improve service have stifled Bangladesh's data market by Mahmud Hussain, who also spoke at the
quality. According to a report in the Daily allowing certain companies to hold onto event, said any reforms would need to
Star newspaper on Monday, Faiz Ahmad the existing fiber infrastructure as if it include introducing fair competition in
Taiyeb – the newly appointed special were a treasure trove,” Taiyeb said. “The the broadband sector, and a tiered ISP
assistant to the chief adviser – criticized more fiber you lay, the more business you licensing system to support small providers
the current telecoms policy structure, create.” Taiyeb also said Bangladesh has backed by strict anti-monopoly regulations.
which is designed for voice services, not failed to position its communications He also said Bangladesh must set a goal
data, and takes an “obsolete” monopolistic sector for the digital and IoT age, with of achieving 100 Mbps broadband for all
or duopolistic approach to telecoms previous governments implementing households by 2030. The government
infrastructure. Speaking at a seminar digital policies that were “inconsistent, should also encourage adoption of next-
organized by the Bangladesh Mobile Phone subpar, and globally misaligned”, the report gen technologies like AI-driven networks
Consumers' Association at the National added. Taiyeb didn’t give specifics on what and IoT, as well as partnerships with global
Press Club on Sunday, Taiyeb stated that policy changes would be considered or tech giants, to drive digital transformation,
a fundamental structural overhaul was implemented, but promised the reforms the report said.

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