MUMBAI: Airtel Business, the B2B arm of Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, has leveraged new-age cybersecurity solutions from Fortinet, a global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, to launch ‘Airtel Secure Internet’ — a new-age internet security solution offering a robust and fully-managed defense against cyber threats.

The unique solution is designed specifically to enhance security over Internet Lease Line (ILL) circuits, combining Airtel’s trusted internet connectivity with Fortinet’s next-generation firewall. It offers comprehensive, end-to-end protection through Airtel’s state-of-the-art Security Operations Centre (SOC) and Fortinet’s Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platform, ensuring robust management and defense against cyber threats.

Sharat Sinha, CEO – of Airtel Business said, “Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly complex and many organizations lack the resources to manage it effectively. We have been pioneers in offering inclusive Cyber Secured ILL in the Indian market. With the launch of yet another innovative security solution — ‘Airtel Secure Internet’— we offer a comprehensive, future-proof solution that strengthens enterprises’ security without the burden of high capex.”

Vivek Srivastava, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Fortinet, added, “As cybersecurity challenges continue to escalate, many organizations are seeking expert support to manage and mitigate threats effectively. Our collaboration with Airtel Business to offer ‘Secure Internet’ provides a cost-effective solution, delivering 24×7 security event monitoring and detection to identify and respond to potential threats in real time. By leveraging the SOC-as-a-Service model, organizations can reduce their total cost of ownership, bridge the cybersecurity skills gap, and gain greater visibility into their complex environments ensuring comprehensive protection in today’s digital landscape.”

‘Airtel Secure Internet’ will address the ever-increasing cybersecurity challenges faced by businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) including limited expertise, fragmented support, and high capital expenditure (capex) for security equipment. Many enterprises also lack basic protection and the expertise to manage security across multiple locations while maintaining technology investments, leaving them exposed to internet-based attacks. Enterprises can also opt for Airtel’s next-gen iSOC, which is a state-of-the-art cyber defense center, offering a large portfolio of security services.

The ‘Airtel Secure Internet service model is designed to protect against technology obsolescence, ensuring businesses remain future-proof while reducing capex expenses. The service allows for seamless upgrades or downgrades as needed, ensuring businesses always stay ahead of emerging security challenges. Airtel’s SOC utilizes advanced orchestration tools with AI and ML algorithms to automate threat mitigation, providing robust, proactive defense.

With Airtel Secure Internet, businesses benefit from Airtel’s pan-India connectivity to link all their locations — headquarters, regional offices, data centers, and remote sites. Bundling Fortinet’s Next Generation Firewall ensures holistic security, while Airtel’s intelligent Security Operations Centre iSOC manages the entire setup with its certified and trained resources, delivering continuous protection and peace of mind.

The fully managed service also integrates a next-generation firewall (NGFW) with enterprise-grade threat protection, which offers comprehensive protection through firewalls, intrusion detection, antivirus, and content filtering, all from a single platform. For more details, click here: https://www.airtel.in/b2b/secure-internet

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NEW DELHI: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organization that coordinates the Domain Name System (DNS), announced today the ICANN Grant Program, which will make millions of dollars in funding available to develop projects that support the growth of a single, open and globally interoperable Internet. ICANN is opening an application cycle for the first $10 million in grants in March 2024.

Internet connectivity continues to increase worldwide, particularly in developing countries. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), an estimated 5.3 billion of the world’s population use the Internet as of 2022, a growth rate of 6.1% over 2021. The Grant Program will support this next phase of global Internet growth by fostering an inclusive and transparent approach to developing stable, secure Internet infrastructure solutions that support the Internet’s unique identifier systems.

“With the rapid evolution of emerging technologies, businesses, and security models, the Internet’s unique identifier systems must continue to evolve,” said Samiran Gupta, Vice President, of Government and IGO Engagement APAC, ICANN. “The ICANN Grant Program offers a new avenue to further those efforts by investing in projects that are committed to and support ICANN’s vision of a single, open, and globally interoperable Internet that fosters inclusion amongst a broad, global community of users.”

ICANN expects to begin accepting grant applications on 25 March 2024. The application window will remain open until 24 May 2024. A complete list of eligibility criteria can be found at: https://icann.org/grant-program.

Once the application window closes, all applications are subject to admissibility and eligibility checks. An Independent Application Assessment Panel will review admissible and eligible applications and the tentative timeline to announce the grantees of the first cycle is in January 2025.

Potential applicants will have several opportunities to learn more about the Call for Proposals and ask ICANN Grant Program staff members questions through question-and-answer webinar sessions in the coming months. For more information on the program, including eligibility and submission requirements, the ICANN Grant Program Applicant Guide is available at 

https://icann.org/grant-program.

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MUANDA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Orange DRC and Airtel Congo RDC have successfully landed the 2Africa submarine cable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) off Muanda through their joint venture, Mawezi RDC SA. The 2Africa project, which will be the world’s largest submarine cable project, is set to connect 33 countries from 2023 onwards, bringing faster and more reliable internet service to every country where it is installed.

The arrival of the 2Africa submarine cable in Muanda marks an important milestone for the DRC’s digital transformation and its connection to the rest of the world. The cable will connect more than three billion people across three continents, offering an economic potential that should ultimately increase tenfold, boosting data transfer and developing business opportunities in the DRC and throughout Africa.

Mawezi RDC SA, the landing partner for the DRC, is responsible for obtaining all the necessary authorizations prior to landing the cable, building the landing station, and operating the station in open access mode so that all internet players can benefit from these additional international capacities. As a stakeholder, Meta was the main investor in the planning and preparation for the arrival and operation of the cable in the DRC.

Laetitia Molasoko N’Singa, Managing Director of Mawezi RDC SA, expressed her pride in seeing the project come to life, stating that it will improve access to broadband internet and accelerate the ambitions of His Excellency Mr. Felix Antoine Tshisekedi’s National Digital Plan. Through this partnership, Orange DRC and Airtel Congo RDC SA reinforce their ambition to improve digital inclusion and development in the DRC.

In conclusion, the landing of the 2Africa submarine cable in the DRC is a significant step towards boosting the country’s digital transformation and economic potential. The cable will provide faster and more reliable internet service, connecting the DRC to the rest of the world and opening up new business opportunities.

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BENGALURU: In a joint effort to promote online safety, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Government of India, and Koo join hands to raise awareness (#CyberSecurityAwareness) about cybersecurity attacks, frauds, and crimes on the occasion of Safer Internet Day(#SaferInternetDay) observed every year on the first Tuesday in February 2023. The collaboration efforts will help to sensitize internet users about safe online practices through posting infographics, videos, and awareness campaigns on the @KooPolicy, @KooForGood, and @IndianCERT official social media handle.

As the use of social media continues to skyrocket, it is essential for social media intermediaries like Koo to take responsibility and ensure a safer online experience for their users. In 2022, India saw over 13 lakh cyberattack incidents, making cybersecurity a key concern of all sectors.

Koo, a user-friendly and transparent micro-blogging platform, has a strong commitment to user safety online. The company has previously joined forces with CERT-In during the National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October 2022 (#NCSAM2022) to educate and train over 4,000 young people from colleges across India on cyber security best practices.

Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General, CERT-In, said, “Cybersecurity is one of the three focus areas of the Digital Economy Working Group during India’s G20 Presidency, and as part of the Presidency, the Hon’ble Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Communications, and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has launched the “Stay Safe Online” campaign. With the exponential increase in the number of internet users in India, it is crucial to raise awareness regarding cyber hygiene among citizens and for them to stay safe in the online world. In this journey of inclusiveness and the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Koo is a natural partner to reach out to citizens in their local language for this awareness.”

Aprameya Radhakrishna, Co-founder & CEO of Koo, said, “At Koo, we understand the importance of creating a safe and secure online space for our users to express themselves freely. Our unwavering commitment to providing a safer internet experience is evident in our range of safety features, including a verification process, a reporting and blocking feature, deep technologies and teams dedicated to moderating content, and data protection through encryption. We have best-in-class processes to ensure the community’s safety. We believe that every individual should have the right to express their thoughts without having to worry about cyber threats, and we are committed to our efforts towards a more responsible and secure online community.”

On Safer Internet Day, Koo is taking the lead as a responsible social media intermediary to curb cyber-attacks by driving awareness through education. This partnership reinforces the company’s commitment to providing a secure and safer internet experience.

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