BizBahrain Magazine Sep-Oct 2017

Highlights | Telecom
Bahrain Achieves
‘Maturity Stage’ in ITU Global
Cyber Security Index
Bahrain has recently achieved a
mature stage of Cyber Security
readiness as per the assessment of
the International Telecommunications
Union’s (ITU) recently published
Global Cyber Security Index 2017. The
index measured the cyber security
commitment levels of all 193 ITU
state members based on five key
pillars ranging from legal, technical,
organizational, to capacity building and
cooperation.
The Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority has implemented several
initiatives in order to address the
gaps identified in the 2014 iteration
of the index in order to elevate the
telecommunications sector cyber
security readiness, and to harmonize
efforts between local and global best
practices.
According to the report, Bahrain
has been listed in the ‘Maturing Stage’
category that includes Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, as well as 75 other
countries that have developed complex
commitments, and have actively
engaged in implementing key cyber
security programs and initiatives.
TRA’s efforts have contributed
significantly towards improving the
cyber security ranking on all of the
5 pillars, and the recently published
Critical Telecommunications
Infrastructure Risk Management
regulation in particular has played a
vital role in improving Bahrain’s ITU
ranking in the Index.
“The Telecommunications sector
has taken positive strides in improving
its cyber security posture since 2014,
yet we do recognize that more needs
to be done in order to realize a more
secure cyber environment that would
enable us to reap sustainable benefits
from digital transformation,” says TRA’s
Director of Cyber Security, Dr. Khalid bin
Duaij Al Khalifa. “While the Authority
remains committed towards bridging
the gap with developed countries as per
the report’s findings, the Authority is
mindful that the global rank is merely
indicative of the gaps that still exist
and which can be positively improved
through National Level Cyber Security
Initiatives that would result in improved
inter-sector cooperation and capacity
building exercises,” he further added.
The Authority further aims to
continually implement initiatives
to achieve further public-private
collaborations to ensure that the sector
is adequately prepared to counter the
rising cyber threats to the availability
and security of the telecommunication
and digital services which are critical
towards achieving a robust digital
economy.
Artificial Intelligence
Framework a Game Changer
for Telecom sector
Nuance Communications, Inc.
(NUAN), stated that the latest
artificial intelligence (AI) framework
could serve as a game changer for the
Bahrain and GCC telecom industry.
The Middle Eastern region is now
witnessing an accelerating technology
migration to higher speed networks and
smartphones, facilitated by operator
investments to extend network coverage.
Telecom operators need to transform
their revenue opportunity through data
and voice services that are high quality,
while managing capital allocation,
and investing in new technologies and
innovations.
“By addressing customer needs in
real time, innovative solutions will open
new possibilities and increase value.
Nuance Loop is specially designed to
fit with the framework of Bahrain and
GCC telecom operators as it engages
mobile subscribers at virtually any touch
point from voice to text to browser,” said
Rajesh Razdan, VP and GM, APAC, CSP
Business, Nuance.
“It’s time for Bahrain and GCC
operators to transform technology
into intelligent solutions. We’ve
been working globally with leading
communications providers for over 20
years, and these companies are showing
considerable interest in the potential
of AI. They are evaluating AI both at the
front end, customer service part of the
chain as well as considering how AI can
help improve service delivery through
better network performance,” added
Rajesh.
With a rapidly expanding population
across the GCC and Africa region,
including the fast youth and urban
markets, the region is set to touch
100 million subscribers by 2020.
Furthermore, there is a massive
explosion of social media platforms in
the region, thus further contributing to
the growth of the industry.
Telecom companies in the Bahrain
and GCC region are entering this
new phase with access to millions of
connected customers that can generate
high cash flows. However, this growth
can be further propelled and sustained
when operators in the region will
adopt and migrate towards the latest
technologies, analytics and invest in
businesses in separate ventures outside
their core business.
Nuance Loop is now available
globally and is currently deployed
across North America, Latin and Central
America, India, Southeast Asia, EMEA,
and Australia, generating hundreds of
millions of dollars a year in incremental,
high margin revenue for its customers.
68 September-October 2017