Cyber Security in Telecom Expected to Grow Fast in Coming Years

The cyber security market in the telecommunication industry is expected to grow at an exponential rate in the next few years due to several factors such as the increasing usage of newer networking technologies such as the 5G, an increasing number of connected devices, and the growing sophistication of cyber threats.

Analysts forecast a massive rise in demand for powerful security solutions to protect telecom infrastructure and the enormous volume of sensitive information it processes.

The increasing popularity of digital communication and growing spread of 5G networks have widened the attack surface for cyber criminals. As such critical infrastructure, telecom networks are among the top targets for all types of cyber attacks, such as ransomware, DDoS attacks and data breaches.

The distributed nature of 5G, and its explosion in support of a huge amount of Internet of Things (IoT), creates many potential threat-points and a higher need for security systems.

Additionally, the telecom industry’s shift to cloud-native networks and the role of AI in network operations provide for both opportunities and challenges from a security standpoint. AI can make your defenses stronger and more efficient, but it can also be wielded back at you by cybercriminals, who may use it to develop more advanced cyber threats such as AI-driven phishing and deepfake voice calls.

There are several trends that will be a significant part of the cyber security growth in telecom. However, the use of Zero Trust architecture – which works on the basis of “never trust, always verify” – is on the rise. Strengthened identity and access management capabilities will be essential to help protect against risks as well as strict data protection regulation.

The telecom cyber security market size is expected to increase from USD 38.15 billion in 2020 to USD 44.85 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.6% during the forecast period. This trend is likely to witness continuity in the near future and is estimated to contribute to a total up to $83.79 billion by the end of 2029, registering a CAGR of 16.9%. The expansion follows investment by telecom operators globally in advanced security technologies and services to protect their networks and customers.

Innovation from top tire cyber security vendors is driving customized solutions that can serve the telecom market. This comprises AI-enabled threat detection systems, advanced encryption methods and exclusive 5G secure network slicing capabilities, designed to not only differentiate 5G services but also bolster security defences such as AI security models able to detect potential threats before they materialize and protect data faster and more effectively, essential within the high-data volume, high-speed architecture environment of modern telecom networks.

Given that North America boasts the maximum share of the telecom cyber security market, the Asia-Pacific region should prove to be lucrative in terms of growth, on the back of swift digitalization and burgeoning mobile networks in countries. This increase reflects the worldwide awareness of the increasing cyber risks and the criticality of securing telecom infrastructure for the integrity, confidentiality and availability of communication networks and services.