GSMA Intelligence and ITU-T SG13 Push Secure, Resilient IP Networks for the AI Era

AI is shifting the balance between attackers and defenders

The summit ran under the motto "Sicherheit und Ausfallsicherheit für Netzwerke, intelligentes neues Wachstum für Netzbetreiber", which translates roughly as security and resilience for networks, intelligent new growth for operators. According to the organizers' press release, representatives of ITU-T SG13 and AV-TEST described a threat landscape changing in the wake of AI.

They argued that AI has accelerated and amplified the scale of attacks, breaking the traditional balance between offensive and defensive security. Security and resilience should therefore be treated as a strategic necessity and built into network architecture from the ground up, they said.

GSMA Intelligence whitepaper: native security and defense in depth

GSMA Intelligence presented its newly published whitepaper on telecom cybersecurity, titled "Eine Zielarchitektur für Cybersicherheit in der Telekommunikation" (a target architecture for cybersecurity in telecommunications). According to the release, it was the first time the paper was shown anywhere in the world. It highlights two core pillars for modern telecom networks:

• Native Security: security should be embedded in network elements from design and production through to deployment and operation.
• In-Depth Defense: a multilayered, domain-based protection against complex and persistent threats.

The whitepaper also warns about decryption threats from quantum computers. It notes that malicious actors collect and store encrypted data in order to decrypt it later. Operators, it says, need to introduce new cryptographic algorithms and cybersecurity measures that can withstand future quantum attacks.

Joint initiative and Huawei's role

In response, ITU-T SG13 and the WBBA launched the initiative "Build Resilient, Secure IP Networks Together". It encourages global operators to improve network security and resilience, with the aim of ensuring high reliability and service continuity in the AI era. The initiative also calls on operators to use AI for new monetization models.

Leon Wang, President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, said AI has evolved from an efficiency tool into an engine for network monetization, and added that sustainable growth requires a secure and resilient foundation. John Cai, Vice President of the same product line, then presented the further developed Huawei NG-WAN solution in detail. Executives from leading global operators also shared roadmaps and practices in network security, resilience and autonomous networking.

Awards and what the summit signals

The president of the IPv6 Forum presented awards to outstanding operator representatives. Egypt's National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) received the prize "Pionier der nationalen Politik zur Netzresilienz" (pioneer of national network resilience policy). According to NTRA Executive President and CEO Ing. Shamroukh, the award recognizes "die herausragenden Bemühungen beim Aufbau resilienter und sicherer IP-Netze sowie bei der Förderung von Initiativen zur Online-Sicherheit von Kindern".

The release says the awards reinforced an industry consensus on ensuring service continuity through security and resilience while driving business growth through network intelligence. For operators, the message of the event is that security, including preparation for quantum-era threats, is to be designed into networks from the start rather than added later. Note that the account comes from the event's press release, which also promotes Huawei's own solution.