T-MOBILE BECOMES A NEW MEMBER OF THE FENIX PROJECT

We live in a time when network attacks are becoming increasingly frequent: according to expert estimates, hundreds of millions of attacks have taken place this year in the Czech Republic alone and billions across the globe. In the Czech Republic, protection against DDoS attacks in particular is the focus of the FENIX project, which was established by the Czech peering node NIX.CZ in 2013. The purpose of the project is to foster cooperation between its members in the area of network security and to ensure the availability of internet services in the case of a DDoS attack. T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. became a member of the project on 11 September 2017.

“We are very happy that we have succeeded in meeting the strict entry criteria, which in itself is proof of the high security standards that our network fulfils,” says Robert Vávra, Vice President Network and IT Operations at T-Mobile, commenting on the operator’s membership in the project and adding: “Joining the FENIX project is another step in our long-term efforts to ensure maximum network security, which customers expect from us.”

Network and service security is of paramount importance for T-Mobile and the operator has been very active in this area. T-Mobile is a member of Trusted Introducers TF-CSIRT and participates in international security projects within GSMA and 3GPP. Thanks to these activities, the operator was able be detect and repel thousands of attacks on the network, which serves more than six million customers.

“We are happy that the group of companies for which security of internet services and their availability in any situation are crucial has expanded to include another important member, bringing the number of members of the FENIX project to eighteen,” says Martin Semrád, director of the NIX.CZ association, adding: “T-Mobile operates fixed-line and mobile services that are used by a large number of Czech internet users. Thanks to its involvement in the FENIX project, T-Mobile will cover an important part of the internet population in the Czech Republic for which the internet will continue to be available also in the event of massive attacks.”

The FENIX project is managed by its members, which are independent of the NIX.CZ association and have complete decision-making autonomy. The project is intended for companies that offer connection to important services and need to secure their operation also in the most critical situations. It is a set of organisational and technical rules which together lead to strengthened network security. The aim of the project is to identify fundamental issues of cyber security and set security standards for the rest of the market.

 

About NIX.CZ

In 2013, the NIX.CZ association was at the inception of the FENIX security project, which was established in connection with massive DoS attacks on Czech banks, telecommunications operators and important online media. In the same year, the association organised the first edition of the CEE Peering Days international specialist conference at which representatives of peering nodes and data centres from around the world meet annually. Since 2016, NIX.CZ has operated the neutral peering node NIX.SK, which is one of the two main internet exchange points in Slovakia. More information about NIX.CZ is available at www.nix.cz.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.