Telecommunications Network Security Ordinance 2020 published
In agreement with the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism and the Federal Minister of the Interior, RTR published a Telecommunications Network Security Ordinance (TK-NSiV 2020) on obligations for operators of electronic communications networks and providers of electronic communications services in connection with minimum security measures, taking 5G networks into account, as well as information obligations in the event of security incidents.
This regulation specifies more detailed provisions to ensure network security in the telecommunications sector. At the same time, a large part of the EU catalog of measures to increase cybersecurity is implemented in 5G networks.
Entry Form for Notifications acc. Art. 44 Par. 5 TKG 2021
The regulatory authority has the form for notifications acc. Art. 44 Par. 5 TKG 2021 revised and simplifies the process for filing such communications. Messages acc. Art. 44 Par. 5 TKG 2021 should preferably be submitted via the eGovernment portal of RTR-GmbH.
Telecoms Sector Risk Assessment 2023
Based on the Austrian Cybersecurity Strategy (ÖSCS) and the Austrian Program for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (APCIP), the regulatory authority is currently conducting another risk analysis for the telecommunications sector. This is necessary in order to ensure the timeliness of the identified risks and of the derived action recommendations and to maintain a high level of protection.
Joint activities of the telecommunications and energy sectors
Based on the sector risk analyses in the energy sector and in the telecommunications sector, the two sectors initiated an institutionalised exchange on cyber security issues several years ago at the initiative of the two regulatory authorities e-Control Austria and RTR-GmbH. Twice a year, industry representatives meet to discuss challenges in the respective areas and, in particular, to shed light on common risks, mutual dependencies and cascading effects.
BEREC Activities
The European Commission's Recommendation on the Safety of 5G Networks from March 2019 prompted BEREC to convene an ad hoc working group, which has since been working intensively on aspects of 5G cybersecurity. The regulatory authority is an active member of this working group and brings expertise from the national priority themes 5G and cybersecurity into the work.
In 2020, the BEREC ad hoc working group on 5G cybersecurity will accompany the implementation of the toolbox of the NIS cooperation group and examine it from a regulatory point of view. The working group is also planning to hold a public workshop on 5G cybersecurity in March 2020. The venue will be Brussels.