Huawei, in collaboration with the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and stc, hosted a critical roundtable discussion on cybersecurity at the recent SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2024. Titled “Building Telecom Cyber Resilience to Protect Business in the Digital Era,” the session brought together leading telecom operators, cybersecurity experts, and decision-makers from regulatory bodies.
This second edition of Huawei’s Global Carrier CISO Roundtable Series, led by Mazen Al Ahmadi, General Manager of Cyber Defense at stc, featured distinguished guests and high-level speakers. Their discussions focused on boosting telecom cyber resilience and safeguarding the digital space in an increasingly interconnected world.
Cybersecurity: A Cornerstone of Digital Success
The roundtable highlighted the critical role of cybersecurity and privacy protection in the success of businesses operating in the ever-evolving digital landscape. With the rise of immersive digital experiences and ubiquitous intelligent applications, network capabilities are undergoing rapid transformation, driven by deep network-cloud-intelligence convergence.
Securing the Future of Telecom Networks
Experts addressed the importance of cyber resilience for innovative telecom operators. Discussions focused on current challenges posed by advanced technologies like 5G and 5G-Advanced (5G-A) networks integrated with cloud and AI capabilities. Speakers examined strategies, models, tools, and skill sets needed to build resilience, alongside the necessary support from regulatory authorities. Remedial actions to address these challenges were also explored.
Mazen Al Ahmadi, General Manager of Cyber Defense at stc, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity and privacy protection have emerged as paramount concerns for businesses across all sectors, particularly in the telecom industry. The potential for cyber threats and data breaches has grown exponentially as the world becomes increasingly interconnected and reliant on digital infrastructure. Recognising the critical importance of addressing these challenges, the roundtable was a vital platform for industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions, share invaluable insights, and collaborate on strategies to fortify the telecom industry against the ever-present menace of cyber threats.”
Mohammed Alosaimi, Chief Security Officer at Huawei Saudi Arabia, reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to reinforcing cybersecurity infrastructure, stating, “As an industry leader actively engaged in cybersecurity R&D and building a cybersecurity ecosystem in the region, Huawei remains steadfast in our collaboration with carriers and partners to strengthen the construction of digital infrastructure around the world, build a thriving ecosystem, and unleash the potential of the digital world securely.”
A Multifaceted Threat Landscape
Discussions explored the evolving cyber threat landscape, including cyber threats, vulnerabilities, insider threats, and supply chain risks. Experts also analysed the contrasting security challenges of legacy signalling systems (2G and 3G) compared to modern IP-based networks (4G & 5G).
Success Stories and Collaboration
Real-world examples took centre stage as speakers shared cybersecurity use cases that directly contribute to the success of telecom businesses. Recognising the importance of collective action, the session concluded with an interactive discussion focused on fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders. Participants explored ways to address existing and future cybersecurity challenges, enhance resilience across the telecom ecosystem, and ensure adherence to international standards such as GSMA NESAS, MCKB, and OIC-CERT recommendations.
Building on a Global Dialogue
This second edition of Huawei’s Global Carrier CISO Roundtable builds upon the momentum established at MWC2024. At that event, 50 carriers and industry organisations engaged in discussions on best practices and industry standards for safeguarding the digital world.
The SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2024, held under the patronage of UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and with global collaboration from ITU, served as a platform for this crucial dialogue. The summit, held on May 13th in Dubai under the theme “Evolving toward Integration, Intelligence & Sustainability in Infrastructure,” highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in building a secure and sustainable digital future.
