CAK keen on security threats posed by the 5G network

by Enock Bett · March 5, 2020

Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) Ag, Mrs. Mercy Wanjau while speaking at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) held in Nairobi confirmed that Kenya, among other 31 Africa countries have identified usable satellite orbital slots with the Radiocommunications Bureau (BR) based at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and are ready to place their notices for 5G network by May 22, this year.

The CAK announced that five companies in Kenya have been given licenses to carry out the 5G network trials in the country. The companies have been tasked to test the network’s viability for a period of one year before the official rollout in 2021. Mercy lauded the efforts the Kenyan Government has taken to protect data through its recently signed into law Data Protection Bill, and reiterated that the authority is very keen on the issues of cybersecurity and acknowledge the threats that the 5G network pose.

“One of the areas that we take attention and focus on is the cybersecurity to ensure that the data is safeguarded. We are very grateful that the data protection policy and the data protection act was passed because this is an additional useful safeguard in this 5G ecosystem,” Ag Mrs. Mercy Wanjau said.

While the 5G networks offer a big business potential in the world of digital technology, experts say the network is very much complex to secure because there are more vectors through which attacks can be carried out as compared to its predecessors 3G and 4G thus poses major cyber threats.

Kenya’s leading telecommunication company, Safaricom will implement 5G is to have a wireless antenna create a connection with a nearby tower, then this antenna to send signals to 5G receivers (e.g. smartphones), within the radius of the connection. Safaricom has earmarked Westlands and a few other posh estates in Nairobi for the initial rollout. Major cities like Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Thika, Machakos, Nyeri, Eldoret will soon join the bandwagon.