Telecommunications networks are the foundation of today’s digital infrastructure, linking billions of people and devices across the globe. This critical position makes them particularly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberthreats that constantly evolve and target these essential systems with increasing frequency and intensity, and potentially affecting national security, economic stability and critical services.
In its 2025 annual cybercrime report, Cybersecurity Ventures found global cybercrime is on track to cost approximately $12 trillion by 2031, up from just $3 trillion a decade ago, notes a Security Boulevard article contributed by Finland-based telecom giant Nokia.
At a recent RSA security conference in San Francisco, an agent with the FBI’s Cyber Division mentioned that cybercrime is not only increasing, but the demographic makeup of cybercriminals leans very young – in the U.S., the average age of someone arrested for cybercrime is only 19. “It is terrifying,” the agent said.
As cyberthreats grow more sophisticated, the telecom industry must evolve accordingly and transform its defense posture. Proactive, automated and intelligence-driven security operations are no longer a luxury—they are foundational.
The future on the horizon is a bold change: The completely autonomous network, where AI and automation manage cyberthreats and invasions in real-time while human analysts become security supervisors, guiding intelligent systems that defend themselves. This isn’t just needed to keep the telecom industry safe; it’s a necessary evolution to stay ahead.