CA detects 4,589 cyber threats as data services grow significantly

During Q2 OF 2017, a total of 4,589 cyber threats were detected by the National KE-CIRT/CC, a Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) national cyber security management framework.

The most prevalent was various forms of system misconfigurations that made computers/networks to be vulnerable and susceptible to cyber-attacks, during the quarter under review.

“Some of these included advanced tactics like distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks, where an online system or service is overwhelmed by intentionally redirecting online traffic to it from multiple compromised sources,” read a statement by CA.

The timely detection aligns with the increased data services which is largely constituted by mobile data subscriptions during the quarter under review.

The number of mobile data/Internet subscriptions rose to register 33.0 million from 30.6 million posted during the preceding quarter marking growth of 8.0 per cent.

Mobile data has witnessed strong growth over the past quarters as observed during the period under review.

“The tremendous growth is attributed to the increased roll out of 3G and 4G mobile networks across the country. During the quarter under review, the number of terrestrial wireless data subscriptions grew by 29.2 per cent to record 82,362 subscriptions from 63,749 recorded in the preceding quarter,” added CA.

Government cited that the increased uptake was as a result of the current government policies, regulations and initiatives on ICT are quite effective.

The data/Internet segment maintained an upward trend during the period under review as Kenyans continued to embrace and take up e-commerce services.

The increased uptake of social media platforms, OTTs and other technological developments such as video on demand have resulted to increased demand for and use of bandwidth in the country.

“The same trend is expected in the coming quarters as the Authority is currently undertaking a key project on Education Broadband that is aimed at providing broadband connectivity of 5 Mbps downlink and 1Mbps to 896 Public Secondary Schools during the current financial year,” added CA.

The Authority is also in the process of licensing new players for LTE/4G services through the assignment of 700MHz, 800 MHz and 450 MHz. These initiatives are expected to play a major role in boosting internet penetration levels in the country in the near future.

Satellite subscriptions registered 8.0 per cent growth to stand at 769 from 712 subscriptions recorded in the previous quarter.

On the other hand, Fixed DSL subscriptions dropped to 1,953 from 2,106 subscriptions recorded during the preceding quarter. Fibre Optic data subscriptions increased to 99,643 during the quarter under review from 90,548 subscriptions reported in the previous quarter marking a growth of 10.0 per cent during the period.

During the quarter under review, the number of fixed cable modem subscriptions declined by 2.7 per cent to 96,876 from 99,564 subscriptions reported in the previous quarter. Other fixed data subscriptions rose by 9.4 per cent to reach 6,700 from 6,127 subscriptions recorded during the previous quarter.