Page 126 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY ACTIVITIES BEYOND

THE SAMENA REGION

Telecommunications company Medion Australia Pty said that the rules had been very effective in stamping
Ltd (Medion) has paid a $259,440 penalty for failing to out SIM-swap fraud, which made Medion’s non-
comply with customer identification rules, resulting in compliance stand out. “SIM-swap fraud can cause
a number of people falling victim to SIM-swap scams. significant harm as scammers may then be able to
Australia An Australian Communications and Media Authority gain access to your online banking accounts and other
(ACMA) investigation found Medion failed to complete personal information. In this case, criminals have taken
a required customer verification check for more than advantage of Medion’s compliance failures,” she said.
1,600 SIM-swap requests and one password reset “The rules have now been in place for well over 12
request. These compliance failures led to nine known months, so telcos have had more than enough time
cases of people having their SIMs swapped illegally, to ensure they have robust verification processes.”
five of whom suffered financial losses totalling over In addition to the financial penalty, the ACMA has
$160,000. SIM-swap scams occur when a scammer accepted a comprehensive two-year court-enforceable
takes control of a person’s mobile number by using the undertaking from Medion committing the company
individual’s personal details to request a new SIM. Under to appoint an independent consultant to review its
industry rules introduced in 2022, telcos are required to compliance with the customer ID rules and to make
conduct a multi-factor identity authentication check improvements where needed. Medion must also report
before undertaking high-risk customer requests such regularly to the ACMA on its progress.
as SIM-swaps, changes to accounts or disclosure of (January 17, 2024) www.acma.gov.au
personal information. ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin

Telecom regulator, the Information and Communication ICTA staff on the preparation level of the regulatory
Technologies Agency (ICTA), held discussions with framework in the field of internet telecommunications
telecommunications operators and providers operating services. It was reported that in the analysis, a number
in the country the regulatory framework in the field of of indicators from 60 international rating tables were
Azerbaijan internet telecommunications services. Nail Mardanov, used. After the presentation, discussions were held
acting head of the agency said, providing information with representatives of operators and providers, and
on the necessity and importance of shaping the their opinions and proposals were heard. During the
regulatory environment, improving regulation and discussions, issues that are necessary to be addressed
supervision institutions, the impact on international in Azerbaijan, as well as the opportunities for public-
ratings, as well as the measures taken in our country private partnerships, were also discussed. It was also
in the field of regulation. Nail Mardanov also delivered noted the necessity of continuous exchange of views
information about the work done by the regulatory around the mentioned issues. ICTA declares once again
body and informed that the analysis of the preparation that it is fully open to suggestions and discussions
level of the regulatory framework in the field of internet around the analysis posted on the official website.
telecommunications services has been conducted (March 4, 2024) www.azernews.az
by ICTA. Afterwards, presentations were made by

Data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information an increase of 180.5 million; China Telecom 318.7
Technology (MIIT) reportedly showed operators had million (50.7 million); and China Unicom nearly 260
deployed 3.4 million 5G base stations at end-2023, million (47 million). The number of 5G subscribers
with the three major mobile players adding 278 million with compatible handsets reached 805 million, MIIT
China package customers across the year. More than 80 reportedly estimated. Only China Mobile releases 5G
per cent of administrative villages nationwide have
network customer numbers in its quarterly numbers: it
5G connectivity, telecoms portal C114.net reported. ended Q3 2023 with 425 million and is due to release
Operator statistics for December 2023 showed the big Q4 2023 figures in March.
three ended the year with a combined 1.4 billion 5G (January 23, 2024) www.mobileworldlive.com
package customers. China Mobile had 794.5 million,

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