Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

4G/5G

Safaricom Turns to Allot to Shore Up Security, Boost QoE

Article Image
Safaricom, Kenya's dominant mobile operator, is to deploy technology from Allot on its mobile and fixed networks to help fend off DDoS attacks and boost the quality of experience (QoE) for its customers.

The customized solution, which comprises Allot's DDoS Secure and NetworkSecure tools as well as analytics and charging capabilities, will help to "enhance quality of experience through improved streaming quality," the vendor said.

Additionally, the solution's network analytics capabilities will help Safaricom optimize its network resources, allowing it to reduce costs and improve customer service plans to increase upsell opportunities.

"We have a long and valued relationship with Allot," said Safaricom's CTO Thibaud Rerolle. "With the visibility, control and security solutions provided by Allot, we will deliver added value with heightened quality of experience and protection to our customers from the rising cybersecurity threats, including DDoS attacks, phishing and crypto jacking."

According to the latest Annual Industry Survey conducted by our sister publication Telecoms.com, malware (of which crypto jacking is a new type), phishing and DDoS are among the most prevalent attack methods, with the volume of such attacks increasing significantly during the past year.

As a counter measure, network operators have been more actively deploying defense tools, from conventional methods such as firewall and DNS blocking to predictive defense measures powered by AI. For businesses such as Safaricom, which has built its commanding market share and growing business on value-added services such as M-PESA mobile money applications as well as connectivity, boosting its security capabilities for both its networks and its customers is critical.

"Safaricom joins several of the world's largest global Tier 1 operators with its deployment of Allot," said Ran Fridman, executive vice president of global sales at Allot. "I am confident the combined DDoS Secure and NetworkSecure convergent solution will bring value to Safaricom and its customers through a better, safer user experience as well as protection against a variety of online threats."

Allot claims its NetworkSecure solution is the world's most broadly deployed network-based security service for the mass market, with more than 21 million paying customers.

Safaricom, meanwhile, is set for a stronger challenge to its Kenyan mobile market dominance as its two main rivals plan to merge. (See Telkom, Airtel finally get engaged.)

— Wei Shi, Site Editor, Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Key adoption areas for machine learning in Africa

ICT analyst Francis Hook identifies some of the key sectors that could be positively impacted by machine learning, including education, government services, healthcare and climate tech.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: September 2023

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in September 2023 in the Middle East and Africa included more 5G spectrum licenses, vendor and operator strategies, and partnerships – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002