B.T.L. highlights cyber security on World Telecom Day…
In Belize the words telecommunications and controversy usually go hand in hand. And while there is no shortage of questions surrounding the nation’s near monopoly telecom company, B.T.L. today used the occasion of an international observance to highlight some of the industry’s less topical challenges.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Today Belize Telecommunications Limited joined other telecom companies around the globe in celebrating World Telecommunications Day 2006.
As part of official activities, today hundreds of Belizean students got a behind the scenes look at B.T.L. starting from the fibre optic lines to cool new features on cellular phones.
The official theme of this year?s telecommunications day is ?Promoting Cyber Security.?
Ralph Fonseca, Minister Public Utilities, Home Affairs
?Cyber security is not an issue that we can put on the back burner and address after we have a crisis on our hands. There is obviously too much at stake. This is the time to act. The time to take up the challenge. Once again, let me reiterate the Ministry?s and Government?s commitment to doing so. We ask you your assistance and your keen and professional interest.?
Karen Bevans, Product Development Manager
?It?s as safe as it can get B.T.L. invests greatly in security because we know from a business standpoint, the network has to be secure for you to put your business information online, so that?s the main thing we push, we try to ensure that the quality of the network is up to international standard so that the business people come have some level of comfort.?
But Belizean businesses were made uncomfortable by B.T.L.?s recent decision to block Voice Over the Internet Protocol.
Janelle Chanona
?I know one of the hang-ups about Voice over Internet Protocol was about security, is that why B.T.L. has seen it fit to try to block VOIP?
Karen Bevans
?Well it?s not only Voice Over Internet, it?s also things like your personal information, your credit card information, your address. As you notice in the exhibition we also try to display to the kids not to give out their personal information in chat rooms, all online because you don?t know who you are chatting with, who you are providing that information to. So just to ensure that you have firewalls and proper security in place, and we are pushing that information to the public make sure your system and your network is secure before you give that kind of personal information online.?
The Public Utilities Commission, the regulatory body governing the telecommunications industry has yet to weigh in on Voice Over Internet Protocol but their decision on whether B.T.L.?s blocks are legal is expected in the near future.
