Why Telcos must rethink cybersecurity: The key to growth, cost savings, and subscriber loyalty

“Disruption” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in telecoms. Usually, it refers to something flashy — new, exciting, and hyped — but ultimately, nothing that changes the game.

Real disruption doesn’t just look different — it solves a problem that’s been ignored for too long. And for telcos, that problem is embedded, proactive cybersecurity that doesn’t break the bank.

Bandwidth isn’t infinite, and neither is your budget

There’s an assumption that network capacity is boundless, but the reality is that junk traffic is quietly draining telco resources, degrading QoE, and increasing operational costs.

Consider this: in a single month, our deployment with an ISP serving 200 initial users (as part of a larger deployment to over 60,000 subscribers) blocked over 953,015 cyber threats. That’s 31,767 threats every day — per user. Expand that across millions of subscribers, and you’re looking at an astronomical waste of bandwidth, all from malicious or unnecessary traffic  [source: BlackDice deployment case study – view here].

Telcos have been sold the idea that scaling infrastructure is the only way to handle growing demand. But what if you didn’t need to buy more capacity — just reclaim the bandwidth that cyber threats, botnets, and rogue IoT devices are wasting?

The business case for Cybersecurity as a ‘revenue driver’

Cybersecurity is too often seen as a cost centre — an operational overhead, a compliance requirement, or a bolt-on service that’s difficult to monetise. But this thinking is outdated.

Here’s why:

1. Cut costs, improve margins

Eliminating junk traffic at the router level frees up capacity, reduces network congestion, and lowers operational costs — without investing in expensive infrastructure upgrades.

2. Better customer experience = Stickier subscribers

Omdia research shows 50% of consumers trust their broadband or mobile provider as the preferred source for whole-home cybersecurity [source: Omdia Digital Consumer Insights 2024]. Providing embedded, AI-driven security boosts QoE, reduces churn, and strengthens brand trust.

3. New revenue streams, adding value (without the complexity)

40% of telco leaders believe whole-home cybersecurity presents the biggest opportunity for increasing broadband ARPU [source: Omdia Consumer Service Provider Survey]. Bundled security services aren’t just a value-add—they’re a way to unlock sustainable, recurring revenue.

5G, 6G, IoT: Are we leaving cybersecurity behind?

We hear a lot about next-gen connectivity — 5G, 6G, IoT, smart cities, ultra-fast broadband. But how much of the conversation is about securing those networks at scale?

The attack surface is growing exponentially:

• 14 billion connected devices today → 50 billion by 2030 [source: Statista]
• Cyberattacks on IoT devices surged 300% in the past year [source: Kaspersky]
• 91% of SMBs would switch providers for better security [source: McAfee Consumer Cybersecurity Report]

This isn’t just a risk — it’s an opportunity for telcos to lead. The first providers to embed cybersecurity at the router level will own the conversation and redefine what “connectivity” truly means.

Where do we go from here?

Telcos must stop thinking of cybersecurity as a checkbox and start seeing it as a business accelerator. Here’s how:

1. Cut the junk at the source. Don’t waste bandwidth on unnecessary cyber threats — free up capacity and drive efficiency.
2. Embed security into your core offering. Consumers expect it, regulators demand it, and the business case stacks up.
3. Use AI to move from reactive to proactive. Predict and prevent threats before they impact subscribers.

At BlackDice, we’re working with telcos globally to turn cybersecurity from a cost into a growth driver. Safe, reliable networks don’t just keep people protected — they help businesses and communities thrive.

So, let’s ask the hard question: as we rush to deploy the networks of the future, are we securing them for what’s ahead?