Security Experts Warn on 5G and AI Risks

Telefonica and GSMA specialists warned on the ever-evolving threat landscape resulting from more advanced connectivity. They highlighted how AI presents both a risk and an opportunity within the ecosystem.

Patricia Diez Munoz, global security director for Networks and Systems at Telefonica said things are changing from the days of 4G, adding everything within the previous mobile generation was in sight and in the core. With disaggregation, services at the edge, and the advent of private networks, the process of operating secure infrastructure is ultimately more complex, explained Munoz. “That’s why 3GPP has started to define specific security features when before they didn’t pay attention to that,” she said.

Head of industry security at the GSMA Sam Kight said there were new risks alongside any new technology, referring to 5G, but added there were more opportunities to ensure enhanced security due to a wider attack surface, an increased number of connected devices, and depth to network infrastructure. One technology that is not only enhancing security risks but also serving as a tool against threats is AI.

Kight said GSMA is looking at AI in terms of enhancing and using the technology to analyze large data sets, detect patterns, and then identify anomalies. “AI is really good at flagging unusual activity from mobile devices. As well as SIM card changes or potentially a location shift, we also use it to detect fraudulent traffic in networks.” She added operators were using it for pattern-based fraud case detection.