Quantum threats force telecom security overhaul
Faster cyberattacks and looming quantum risks are pushing operators toward crypto-agility.
Telecom operators across Asia Pacific are facing intensifying pressure to modernise network security as cyberattacks accelerate and quantum computing threatens to undermine today’s encryption standards. With distributed denial-of-service attacks now peaking in minutes rather than hours, resilience has become a frontline operational priority.
Henrique Vale, VP, APAC Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said the industry is still in the early stages of preparing for quantum-safe networks, warning that current encryption methods “will eventually be vulnerable to quantum computers.” Regulators and standards bodies are already responding, and Vale noted that “current decryption is expected to be deprecated by 2030 in APAC.”
The challenge is amplified by the region’s mixed infrastructure. “This presents a significant and complex challenge,” Vale said. “We are probably talking about a years-long journey to replace fundamental security layers across all diverse networks that we have in place.”
Jacky Fox, APAC Cyber Security Lead and Global Security Strategy Practice Lead at Accenture, said preparedness varies widely, though telecoms are ahead of many sectors. “The industry is still evolving and building up its capability for quantum safe defenses,” she said, adding that telecoms are “an early adopter, along with government and financial services.”
Automation is emerging as a critical defence as threats become faster and more sophisticated. “If you get attacked in an automated way, you have to have a fast response to it, and you can really only do that if you're automated,” Fox said, particularly in response to denial-of-service attacks.
Vale said human-led security models can no longer keep pace. “Automation, powered by AI and machine learning, is no longer a nice to have, but the fundamental necessity for network security,” he said. Nokia data shows that 58% of APAC service providers face high rates of signalling and protocol attacks, while another 58% are dealing with telecom-adapted malware. “These attacks are often automated themselves, making human-only responses way too slow,” Vale said, noting that automation enables threat detection and mitigation “in the matter of milliseconds.”
Looking to 2025, both executives stressed the need for targeted policy and investment. Vale said priorities include identity and access management, unified security across hybrid networks, regulatory compliance and operational hygiene. “Human factors remain the leading cause of breaches,” he said, adding that automation in vulnerability management and rapid incident response is now essential to protect revenue and trust.
Fox urged operators to focus on protecting the core of their networks. “Understanding what the core and heart of their network is” should guide resilience efforts, she said, including post-quantum encryption, attack simulations and stricter patching standards. She also emphasised collaboration. “A lot of these networks are interconnected,” Fox said. “It's very important that… there’s global cooperation in this place.”
