Emtel Partners with NEC XON to Modernise Cybersecurity Capabilities

Emtel has announced a strategic partnership with NEC XON, a ICT systems integrator in Africa, to modernise and strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities in response to the increasingly complex global threat landscape.

NEC XON Head of Cybersecurity, Armand Kruger: “Cyberattacks, especially within the telecoms sector, have become more sophisticated and persistent. Emtel has deployed Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR in collaboration with NEC XON’s expert-led Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. The solution offers AI-driven threat detection and rapid incident response, enabling Emtel to proactively neutralise cyber threats and drastically reduce dwell time.”

“In the telecoms sector, where service continuity and data integrity are critical, cybersecurity is not optional — it’s mission-critical,” says Emtel CEO Kresh Goomany. “This partnership empowers Emtel to shift to intelligence-led, proactive cyber resilience.”

The collaboration aligns strongly with both companies’ strategic goals. For Emtel, it ensures continuous delivery of secure digital services to customers. For NEC XON, the partnership underscores its commitment to equipping African telecom providers with enterprise-grade security tailored to local threats and regulatory requirements.

Tackling the Regional Cyber Threat Landscape

Mauritius — like many regions undergoing rapid digital transformation — is faced with an increasingly hostile cyber environment. Challenges include:

• Targeted ransomware attacks on telecoms, financial services, and government institutions.
• Regulatory and compliance pressures, especially under laws like the Data Protection Act 2017.
• A shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent, making it difficult for many organisations to maintain real-time visibility and rapid response capabilities.

Through this partnership, Emtel and NEC XON address these challenges head-on. The Cortex XDR platform provides unified visibility across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments, while NEC XON’s MDR services deliver 24/7 threat hunting, investigation, and response — all tailored to regional realities and compliance requirements.

“This collaboration goes beyond just deploying technology,” says Goomany. “It’s about enabling telecom operators like Emtel to be trusted, secure digital backbones for their nations.”