The Communications Risk Information Centre (COMRiC) is a nonprofit association that describes themselves as “South Africa’s frontline defence against telecommunications crime” and its leadership team includes Chief Risk Officers and other leading executives from all of the country’s largest telcos. So it is worth paying attention to the findings in their first Telecommunications Sector Report, which was issued recently. The report includes contributions from all of South Africa’s major comms providers, including MTN, Telkom, Liquid and CellC. Vodacom’s contribution described the publication of the report as “a significant milestone”.
One observation that will also stir debate in other countries is the demand that simboxes be tackled by introducing a nationwide ban and import controls, as already established in some other African countries and adopted by the UK earlier this year. The report praises the extent to which Tanzania and Ghana have reduced fraud by targeting simboxes. The message from COMRiC CEO Thokozani Mvelase to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the national comms regulator, could not be any plainer.
We are also urging ICASA to enforce a ban on sim box modems, many of which are smuggled in without regulatory approval. These devices threaten network security, intercept messages, and bypass lawful surveillance systems. Their continued use undermines national efforts to protect digital infrastructure.
This article originally appeared on CommsRisk. Click here to read the full story.