Page 138 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Swiss Regulator Clears Sunrise Move for UPC

Sunrise scored a win in its troubled move largest operator in Switzerland. It added creating a new, converged, operator. The
to acquire Liberty Global’s cable operator the companies “complement each other approval will be welcome relief for Sunrise,
UPC Switzerland, after its domestic in many areas”, noting the acquisition which is embroiled in a spat with its largest
competition authority gave the deal a would beef up Sunrise’s ability to compete shareholder, Freenet, over the terms of
green light. In a statement, the Swiss with market leader Swisscom by offering the CHF6.3 billion ($6.3 billion) deal. With
competition commission explained the “landline, broadband internet and mobile regulatory hurdles cleared, Sunrise noted
tie-up “does not create or strengthen a services” along with digital TV “on its own the next step will be a shareholder meeting
dominant position” in any of the markets infrastructure”. In a statement, Sunrise CEO scheduled for 23 October. It expects to
where the companies operate, even Olaf Swantee said the clearance was “an close the transaction by end-November.
though it will make Sunrise the second- important milestone” on the road towards

NCC Vows to Protect Telecoms Consumers against Cybercrime

The Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, that the theme of the event was aimed at address, said the town hall meeting (CTM)
Nigerian Communications Commission highlighting the threats of cybercrime to was to bring together telecoms consumers
(NCC), Mrs. Felicia Onwuegbuchulam said users of telecoms services and to sensitize in the rural and semi-urban areas, adding
the commission is more than determined them on the role they needed to play that such was to bring them together with
to protect telecoms consumers from against the preying eyes of cyber criminals service providers as well as the regulator
cyber criminals in the country, adding and hackers. Onwuegbuchulam stated for a face-to-face interaction on telecom
that it has evolved measures to achieve further that consumers were important issues affecting the consumers. According
this. Onwuegbuchulam, who made the stakeholders in the current cyber space, to him, “This was organized to sensitize
disclosure at the 53rd Consumer Town Hall noting that individuals and corporate telecoms consumers on the rising wave
meeting of the commission held in Oyo, users of telecom devices often make use of cybercrime in its various forms, the
also said the theme: ”Mitigating Effects of internet in the connected world. “it is dangers it poses and the role, which
of Cybercrimes: The Role of Telecom our belief as a commission, that without telecoms consumers are expected to play
Consumers,” was aimed at informing consumers becoming aware of cybercrime in reducing the impacts of cybercrimes on
and educating consumers on the roles trends and making efforts to ensure safe them. “Let me emphasize at this juncture
required of them in mitigating cybercrime. use of connected devices, cyber criminals that while the regulatory intervention and
Represented by her deputy, Alhaji Ismail will continue to make cyberspace unsafe. other initiatives are ongoing to sanitize
Adedigba, she said the NCC evolved the “Our belief is that the most effective ways our internet space, telecoms consumers
initiative to identify, discuss and jointly to protect telecom consumers from effects must play their response. Thus, the need
proffer effective solutions to different of cybercrime is through continuous for you all to take this meeting seriously as
issues affecting telecoms consumers consumer education and awareness such we educate you on what your roles should
in the country. According to her, “As a as the one we are having here today,” she be in minimizing the effect of cybercrime.”
tripartite program, the forum aims to, on said. She maintained that the commission The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,
a continuous basis, engage telecoms had embarked on various initiatives lauded the NCC for educating the people
consumers by educating, informing and to increase access to the internet for on cybercrime, its various forms, the
empowering them with information they Nigerians, adding that they are conscious dangers it poses and the role expected
need to know, their rights when violated of dishonest individuals using the internet of consumers in mitigating such danger.
by the service providers. “Since we started for illegal activities. “The hackers and cyber The monarch, who was represented by
organizing this event some years back, criminals deploy sophisticated systems the Bashorun of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Ayoola,
we have treated different thematic topics, to intrude into your connected devices as called on NCC to make the interface regular
which have produced key resolutions telecoms consumers to perpetrate their so as to reduce cybercrime drastically in
that have been communicated to service exploitation schemes. Cybercrime is on the the society. He also warned the youths
providers for implementation. “Indeed, this increase. The commission is committed to to shun criminal activities among which
has helped to guarantee improved services using its various outreach programmes to is cybercrime, urging them to embrace
and value for money spent on telecom embark on series of awareness campaigns honesty, patience and hard work, which he
services for the consumers. Telecom with a view to keeping consumers well said, were hallmarks of the Yoruba.
consumers have been the ultimate informed on the risks associated with being
beneficiaries of the initiatives.” She added online,” she said. Adedigba, in his personal

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