Telecom networks increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, experts warn

TORONTO - Technology experts say telecommunications networks are increasingly susceptible to security threats and that companies should leverage artificial intelligence to help protect their infrastructure. Ericsson Canada chief technology officer Tania Leppert says there is a growing need to safeguard telecom infrastructure, both to maintain the flow of critical communication during emergencies and to prevent massive amounts of data from being stolen. Speaking Wednesday at the 24th annual Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto, Leppert said the increased importance of telecom infrastructure in day-to-day life has made it an "attractive target for nefarious actors as well." She says attacks have become more sophisticated due to technological advancements, but AI analysis can also be used as a tool to monitor for potential threats to networks. Robert Beggs, chief executive of Waterloo, Ont.-based security solutions company DigitalDefence, says there's been an uptick in cyberthreats targeting the telecom sector over the past five years. In February, as part of a CRTC decision about improving 911 resiliency, the regulator directed service providers to implement "robust cybersecurity measures to help prevent outages caused by cyberattacks," which can include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other safeguards. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2025.