Page 93 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

The communications regulator Ofcom is banning Black, the director for networks and communications
mobile operators from leasing numbers that can be at Ofcom, said: “We are taking world-leading action to
used by criminals to intercept and divert calls and tackle the threat posed by criminals gaining access to
messages, including security codes sent by banks to mobile networks. Leased global titles are one of the
United customers. Ofcom said it would stop the leasing of most significant and persistent sources of malicious
“global titles”, special types of phone numbers used
signalling. Our ban will help prevent them falling into the
Kingdom by mobile networks to support services to make sure wrong hands, protecting mobile users and our critical
messages and calls reach the intended recipient. The telecoms infrastructure in the process.”The National
regulator said until now global titles, which are used Cyber Security Centre has recognised the risk posed by
in the background of billions of calls and messages leasing global titles, but Ofcom said it had implemented
sent worldwide, could be leased out to third parties, a ban because industry-led efforts to tackle the problem
providing a technical loophole whereby criminals had not been effective.
could get hold of and intercept messages. Natalie (April 22, 2025) www.theguardian.com

The Federal Communications Commission initiated hold satellite systems back from delivering even better
a review of the decades-old spectrum sharing regime coverage, capacity, and signal quality. Outdated power
between different types of satellite systems. The restrictions adopted decades ago represent the greatest
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted, begins limitation on modern commercial satellite capabilities.
United a formal proceeding to enable greater and more In this proceeding, the FCC will look to update those
power restrictions for use of the workhorse satellite
intensive use of spectrum for space activities in the
States United States. Today’s satellite systems offer high- frequencies (Ku- and Ka- bands) that support the next
speed, low-latency broadband connectivity across generation of satellite broadband constellations in Low-
the country to American consumers and businesses Earth Orbit. FCC spectrum rules for these bands are
and enable lifesaving communications in rural areas underpinned by dated technical rules that were written
and during emergencies. In short, these satellites are for the satellite marketplace of the 1990s.
bridging the digital divide. Even so, regulatory barriers (April 29, 2025) www.fcc.gov

The telecoms regulator is urging the government to more unconnected users come online and become
introduce mandatory handset registration in a bid vulnerable to digital threats. One of the key benefits
to tackle rising cybercrime and improve the safety of the proposed system, according to Myambo, would
of mobile money transactions. Hasha Myambo, be the ability to block lost or stolen handsets from
Vietnam an engineer at the Post and Telecommunications accessing mobile networks - helping to curb device
Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), called
theft and unauthorised use. Myambo also highlighted
for handset registration to complement the country’s that POTRAZ is working with ICT stakeholders and
existing SIM card database. He argued that this would other regulators to develop a national strategy aimed at
enhance transaction security and help rebuild trust integrating ICT into economic and social development.
in Zimbabwe’s digital infrastructure. While SIM card He added that the regulator is shifting away from a
registration has been in place since 2013, Myambo is “command and control” model in favour of a more
advocating for the creation of a national database of collaborative approach to drive Zimbabwe’s digital
mobile phone IMEI numbers. He noted that this could economy forward.
play a crucial role in combating fraud, especially as (April 15, 2025) www.developingtelecoms.com

93 MAY 2025