Page 100 - SAMENA Trends - October-December 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

UN, ITU Launch Advisory Body to Strengthen Submarine Cable Resilience

The International Telecommunication year, requiring around three cable repairs “Submarine cables are essential to the
Union (ITU), in collaboration with other per week. The primary causes of cable functioning of our connected world, but
UN departments established a new body damage are accidental human activities, they face risks that require coordinated,
aimed at strengthening the resilience of such as fishing and anchoring, as well as proactive action,” said Tijani. “We are
submarine cables in response to rising natural hazards and equipment failures. therefore pleased to host the inaugural
outages. The ITU, the United Nations The Advisory Body is co-chaired by H.E. Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in
Agency for Digital Technologies, and the Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Nigeria in early 2025.” “This initiative
International Cable Protection Committee Innovation and Digital Economy of the underscores the global community’s
(ICPC) have jointly formed the International Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Professor commitment to strengthening these
Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board networks and advancing international
Resilience. The new body will explore ways of Directors of Portugal’s National cooperation for digital resilience,” added
to improve cable resilience by promoting Communications Authority (ANACOM). Maximiano.
best practices for governments and
companies. Its focus will include ensuring
timely deployment and repair of submarine
cables, reducing the risk of damage,
and enhancing connectivity continuity.
“Submarine cables carry over 99 per cent of
international data exchanges, making their
resilience a global imperative,” said ITU
Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
“The Advisory Body will mobilize expertise
from around the world to ensure this vital
digital infrastructure remains resilient in
the face of disasters, accidents, and other
risks.” The ICPC estimates that an average
of 150 to 200 faults occur globally each

Oman’s MTCIT Tackles 136 Cybersecurity Incidents and Advances Digital

Authentication Services in 2024

Oman’s Ministry of Transport, help institutions mitigate potential risks were issued for electronic signature
Communications, and Information and prevent breaches. The National tools for government and private sector
Technology (MTCIT), through the National Laboratory for Digital Evidence, during the employees. To further strengthen Oman’s
Centre for Information Security, has same period, processed 164 cases and digital ecosystem, MTCIT completed the
successfully addressed 136 cybersecurity analyzed 757 devices, including desktop integration of 14 new electronic systems
incidents in the first nine months of 2024. computers, laptops, mobile phones, and from various institutions, expanding access
The swift detection and resolution of external hard drives. MTCIT has also made to electronic authentication services. This
these issues underscore the ministry’s significant progress in enhancing Oman’s initiative aims to streamline operations
commitment to safeguarding the nation’s digital authentication services, issuing and ensure secure digital interactions
digital infrastructure against emerging over 2.3 million electronic authentication across sectors. These achievements
cyber threats. In addition, MTCIT issued certificates linked to residence cards. reflect MTCIT’s ongoing efforts to fortify
25 cyber alerts and warnings concerning Furthermore, more than 233,000 Oman’s cybersecurity infrastructure and
security vulnerabilities. These alerts were certificates were provided for mobile drive the country toward a safer and more
accompanied by detailed guidelines to phone authentication, and 213 certificates efficient digital future.

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