Study into the Implications of Smartphone Operating System Security

Study into the implications of Smartphone operating system security
The role of MNOs in managing mobile operating system updates
UK MNOs are responsible for ensuring that the mobile phone network is reliable and
available.
With modern 3G and 4G networks UK operators have to ensure that the reliability and
availability of the network is not just pertinent to voice communications but data traffic as
well.
Management of data traffic, including mobile broadband, within the mobile network is
becoming an essential, and increasingly used (see figures from Ofcom below), part of an
Operator’s service.
Ofcom data from 2012 Communications Market Report
“Growth in Smartphone take-up resulted in increasing use of mobile data in the year
to Q1 2012. The average time spent using mobile data services was 2.1 hours a month
in 2011, 25 minutes per month (24.7%) more than in 2010, while the volume of data
consumed more than doubled in the 18 months to January 2012.” 57
To ensure that the quality and integrity of the UK’s mobile phone network is maintained
MNOs have to ensure that mobile devices that are connecting into their networks are
controlled and do not unduly effect the network’s operation in any way. This includes both
the cellular (radio) and data networks.
As, in the majority of UK cases, the MNO owns the Smartphone and manages the
connectivity to the radio network, they want as much control in software updates, including
testing as is possible and allowable. Some Smartphone manufacturers, including
BlackBerry, make it easier for operator testing by separating out the Smartphone’s system
software into two categories; the radio stack and the operating system (no or little
involvement in connecting to the radio network).
For BlackBerry OS if there are no changes to the radio stack but changes to the operating
system then the MNO will have no or little involvement in the software update process and
there will be no operator testing. In this scenario, the BlackBerry Smartphone owner will be
notified directly by BlackBerry of the need to update the operating system software. This
results in a potentially speedier software update schedule as there are no delays as a result
of operator involvement in this process.
In other cases the MNO will get involved in Smartphone testing and these will occur every
time an operating system update is made. They will ensure that changes to the Smartphone
operating system will not adversely affect both the stability of the device, ensuring that
customer data is not corrupted, and the operation of the network – the technology aspects
57 Ofcom 2012 Communications Market Report Page 14
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