Saudi Arabia’s largest mobile network operator, stc, has become one of the few telecom operators globally to achieve 100% compliance with the signalling security controls recommended by the GSMA. This milestone reflects stc’s commitment to ensuring secure communications and protecting its network and subscribers from threats like data leaks, unauthorised location tracking, and the interception of sensitive communications.
As a key enabler of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, stc has worked diligently to provide secure, reliable communications to its consumer and business subscribers. In partnership with Enea, stc implemented robust security controls and validated their effectiveness through extensive penetration testing, following the GSMA’s guidelines and additional security measures.
The collaboration between stc’s proactive security approach and Enea’s signalling firewall technology has successfully defended against cross-protocol attacks. Continuous testing, threat analysis, and case development have been key to strengthening the security framework. The firewall also employs cross-protocol analysis to detect and prevent complex attacks.
Abdulaziz Alaqil, Cybersecurity & Data Governance Excellence GM at stc, expressed pride in the 100% compliance rating, stating it highlights stc’s dedication to protecting subscribers. He emphasized that stc is leading the telecom industry in setting new security benchmarks. John Huges, SVP at Enea, also praised the partnership, calling it a key achievement for both companies.
The achievement marks a major step in enhancing telecom security in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that stc remains at the forefront of cybersecurity in the telecommunications industry.
