Communications and entertainment provider GO recently hosted a fraud, cyber crime and network security workshop in Malta organised by the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO), entitled Telecommunications Fraud and Security – on the Ground Issues and Long Term Evolution.

GO is an active member of ETNO – a leading policy group of European electronic communications network operators. Over 40 delegates flew to Malta for the workshop.

The working group’s primary aim was specifically to provide a framework for an exchange of experience and development of industry best practices in the fields of fraud prevention, detection and control, including enhancement of network security and minimisation of cyber crime. The market-driven workshop aimed to develop operational security and widen the scope of fraud management in the European telecom marketplace.

Speaking at the workshop’s opening session, GO CEO David Kay observed: “GO has long acknowledged the importance of fraud prevention and detection and has invested in a set-up for this purpose. Fraud costs carriers a substantial amount of money annually and is one of the prime leakages that contribute to a substantial percentage reduction in total revenues. Companies geared to combat and control fraud are less susceptible to the negative effects of fraud. Statistics show that a relatively well organised telecoms company is likely to lose one to three per cent of its revenue in fraud”.

GO internal auditor Ingrid Azzopardi said: “GO has, over the years, taken an active part in this workshop and the shared experience has resulted in an enhanced awareness on the part of GO vis-à-vis long-term strategies that the telecommunications industry should implement to counter fraud. This forum provides a spot-on platform for networking among operators”. Ms Azzopardi presented a paper on Internal Audit and Fraud Prevention.

Luis Sousa Cardoso, on behalf of the ETNO Working Group, thanked GO for hosting the workshop that included presentations by delegates from international telecom giants such as Deutsche Telecom, France Telecom, Wind, OTE and Portugal Telecom. The workshop also included various roundtable discussions and details of the fraud suffered by all the participating companies over the past year.

With the primary aim of performing activities and reaching objectives, the working group maintains external contacts with the Council of Europe, the European Commission, ETSI, Eurescom, FIINA (Forum for the International Irregular Network Access), QSDG (Quality of Service Development Group), CFCA (Communications Fraud Control Association), EU CIP, ETNO Data Protection and Information Security Working Group as well as the GSMA Fraud Forum.