Germany’s regulator consults on security requirements; clarifies local 5G rules

Germany’s Federal Network Agency, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), is consulting on a revision of the catalogue of security requirements for operating telecoms and data processing systems and for processing personal data. “It is essential to protect information and communication systems against threats. The updated security requirements for telecommunications networks and services play an important role in this,” said Jochen Homann, BNetzA president. BNetzA has updated the security requirements together with the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (BfDI). Security requirements have been specified in particular for the operators of public telecoms networks with a higher level of risk. BNetzA has also clarified the regulatory requirements that apply to local 5G frequencies, reports Telecom Paper. “The agency plans to award frequency blocks of 10 MHz or 100 MHz for local use on campuses. Large corporations including BASF, Daimler, Siemens, Bosch, VW, BMW, Fraport and Deutsche Messe have already signalled their interest in their acquisition. Details of pricing of the frequencies and the timing of their allocation have not yet been disclosed. Among the requirements, the regulator says the frequencies must only be used locally, at the factory, and only for companies’ internal communications. A public telephone or data service running on the frequencies allocated for the campus is not allowed by the regulations.” Read BNetzA security and Telecom Paper item.

• Monday, 21 October 2019