Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - July-August 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

EU Progresses Device Security Regulation

A committee of Members of the European consumer devices will be categorized into in cybersecurity to combat cyber threats.
Parliament (MEPs) approved a draft of new different lists based on “criticality” and level “Impact of cyber-attacks through digital
regulation designed to bolster the security of of cybersecurity risks. MEPs suggested an products has increased dramatically in
consumer devices, while outlining the next expansion of the list to include software recent years,” the parliament claimed,
steps to develop standard requirements for products such as password managers, with many consumers falling victim to
connected products sold in the bloc. In a biometric readers, identity management vulnerabilities in smart home products
statement, the parliament noted the Cyber software and smart assistants, smart including robot-vacuum cleaners and
Resilience Act will establish a uniform watches and security cameras. MEPs also alarm systems. The draft is backed by the
set of requirements for products with require devices to have security updates majority of MEPs and they will now open
digital features and manufacturers will be installed automatically and separately negotiations about the proposal with the
required to provide details on their security from functional ones, while stressing the European Council.
properties. Under the new regulation, importance of talent and skills training

World Mobile Secures US Spectrum; Awaiting FCC Approval to Become the
Country’s 52nd MNO

Decentralized network infrastructure pro- website, World Mobile has been testing its
vider World Mobile has announced that it network technologies ‘across quaint towns
has secured up to 20MHz of spectrum in and open spaces in New Hampshire’. The
markets within California, New Mexico, Ne- website explains: ‘World Mobile utilizes
vada and Utah. The frequencies will pave both aerial and terrestrial infrastructure,
the way for World Mobile to deploy decen- blockchain technology, and hybrid connec-
tralized network infrastructure (AirNodes) tivity to create an unstoppable people-run
within these states, with a focus on un- mobile network. Offering affordable ubiq-
derserved communities. Going forward, uitous coverage in extremely expensive
World Mobile says it is poised to become coverage areas.’ World Mobile utilizes aero- module that enables backhaul over unli-
a full member of the GSMA and be official- stats – unpowered balloons – that can pro- censed spectrum and Sigfox and LoRaWAN
ly recognized as the 52nd mobile network vide connectivity over a 75km radius. The modules. Last-mile connectivity is provided
operator (MNO) in the United States, pend- typical payload on each aerostat includes via AirNodes, which are hybrid mesh devic-
ing approval by the Federal Communica- an LTE module that delivers 4G cellular con- es that are owned by communities or local
tions Commission (FCC). According to its nectivity over licensed spectrum, an LTE-U entrepreneurs.

U.S. is 32nd Worldwide on Broadband Affordability

The United States ranks thirty-second in the North America overall, high speed Internet pensating for the high cost of internet.”
world on internet affordability, according consumes 3.04% of users’ salaries. Cana- The five countries with the most afford-
to new research from Broadband Genie, a da is 41st on Broadband Genie’s internet able broadband were Hong Kong, Singa-
provider of data about broadband services. affordability rankings. Regionally, Europe pore, Denmark, and Finland. In all of those
Broadband affordability is defined by the had the most affordable broadband. The countries, broadband costs less than 1% of
percentage of a country’s average salary Americas were third. Africa had the least the average salary. The countries with the
that would need to be spent to cover the av- affordable broadband. “The United States least affordable internet are Turkmenistan,
erage cost of internet connectivity. Broad- and Canada both have one of the highest Equatorial Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
band Genie estimates that the average internet costs,” Alex Tofts, the Broadband Broadband costs more than 80% of the av-
monthly U.S. broadband bill is $72.20 and Expert for Broadband Genie, said in a sum- erage monthly salary in all three countries.
the average monthly salary is $4,083.26. mary. “It’s driven by a lack of competition A study conducted by NTIA last year found
That means U.S. residents spend just un- and bigger distances to connect, with lower that three in four U.S. households that do
der 1.8% of their monthly salaries on broad- population density than other developed not have home internet would use it only if
band. Worldwide, subscribers spend 3.8% countries. However, both have average the service were free.
of their monthly salary on broadband. In wages in the top fifteen in the world, com-

99 JULY-AUGUST 2023