Muscat – The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) held a session on Sunday with stakeholders under its ‘Constructive Dialogue’ initiative, focusing on cyber fraud and the growing risks posed by unlicensed telecommunications networks.

The session aimed to facilitate direct engagement with the community, enhance trust in the communications sector and improve service quality by involving users and stakeholders in shaping regulatory and supervisory solutions.

Discussions on unlicensed networks addressed the clarity of legal definitions governing such practices, the adequacy of existing penalties and fines, and the security risks associated with their use, including their potential to facilitate cybercrime. Participants also examined the impact of these networks on the quality and reliability of telecommunications services.

Cybercrime and emerging fraud methods were also in focus, with the session reviewing common techniques used by fraudsters to obtain personal data, as well as expected future trends in light of rapidly evolving digital tools. The dialogue explored the readiness of relevant authorities to deal with such crimes, the effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks in closing potential loopholes and prevention measures, including the role of public awareness and digital literacy in reducing the number of victims.

Ahmed bin Hassan al Hadabi, official spokesperson for TRA, said the session brought together representatives from academia, relevant government entities, the private sector and the wider public to shed light on these challenges. He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to continuing its awareness efforts among users of telecommunications and technology services.

Rashid bin Salem al Salmi, Managing Director of Insight Information Security, noted a marked rise in attempted email fraud globally, estimating an increase of around 50% over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025. He added that the growing use of artificial intelligence by attackers has significantly enhanced the sophistication of such attacks, posing new challenges for protection and mitigation.