The GSMA has set up the Association Africa Fraud and Security Group (AFASG), that will deal with critical fraud and security issues for the telecommunications industry in the Africa continent.
The group will be chaired by Unitel, with a mandate of two years, renewable for two more, upon evaluation of the work carried out and subject to a new election. The appointment is the result of an application process which is based on the presentation of a Strategic Leadership Plan for the Group in Africa, submitted to the consideration of its members.
Unitel competed with MTN (which has 18 operations in Africa) and with Wana Corporate, Morocco. The role of the Chair will be assured by the Director of Risk, Fraud and Security of Unitel, José Carlos Sobreira Martins.
The AFASG includes the major telecommunication groups in Africa such as: Orange (18 operations in Africa); MTN (18); Airtel (16); Vodafone / Vodacom (8) and Millicom / Tigo (4), in addition to other individual mobile operators and Associate Members such as technology vendors such as Ericsson and Huawei.
AFASG is an entity within the framework of the GSMA Association, which in turn represents the international interests of all mobile telecommunications operators in the world. There are more than 800 mobile operators, and more than 350 associated companies that are part of the broader mobile ecosystem.