Telecom operators urged to rethink voice & security

Technology and cybersecurity specialists have urged telecom operators and enterprises to rethink how they manage voice, connectivity and security as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day turns attention to the sector. Senior industry figures pointed to mounting complexity, regulatory pressure and rising cyber risk across increasingly digital economies.

Global enterprise telephony sits at the centre of this shift. Microsoft Teams Phone now has more than 26 million public switched telephone network (PSTN) users worldwide, up from 20 million in April 2024, as organisations move traditional calling into collaboration platforms. For multinationals, scaling these services across borders is exposing gaps in strategy, procurement and compliance.

Zach Bennett, Microsoft Teams MVP and principal architect at LoopUp, said many global firms still underestimate the complexity of implementing unified telephony at scale across markets.

"As it is World Telecom Day, it's worth acknowledging just how complex global enterprise voice can still be. Microsoft Teams Phone now sits at 26 million+ PSTN users worldwide, up from 20 million in April 2024, and multinationals are discovering that lighting up Teams calling in several countries is a very different challenge to deploying it in a single one. Local number ranges, emergency calling regulations, fax and analogue edge cases, and country-specific compliance requirements all sit underneath what looks, on the surface, like a simple dial pad. The organizations getting this right are the ones treating telephony as an extension of their Microsoft 365 strategy, not a bolt-on. The real shift needed is in how enterprises buy voice: a single global provider, one contract, consistent service levels across every market, and the local expertise to handle the regulatory detail behind the scenes. That's what modern communication infrastructure should look like in 2026 - not a patchwork of regional carriers held together by spreadsheets, but a unified service that lets IT teams focus on enabling the business rather than chasing dial tone country by country," Bennett said.

The comments reflect a broader trend in large enterprises. Many now treat voice as part of a wider productivity and collaboration stack rather than as a standalone telecom expense. That approach often centralises contracts, reduces the number of regional carriers, and brings telecom procurement closer to cloud and software governance.

Security and resilience are moving alongside that consolidation. Cybersecurity leaders say the expansion of connected infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cloud communications is reshaping risk models for both operators and customers.

Ashish Kumar, managing director of OptiValue Tek, said telecom networks now underpin a wide range of connected systems across the public and private sectors.

"Communication technologies today are shaping a smarter, safer and more connected world by driving innovation across governance, infrastructure, enterprises and everyday life. From AI-driven systems and secure digital networks to emerging technologies like drones and smart infrastructure, connectivity has become a key enabler of progress and inclusive growth. At OptiValue Tek, we believe telecommunications is not just about connecting devices and systems, but about empowering communities, enabling opportunities and creating meaningful impact through technology. As the digital ecosystem continues to evolve, the focus must remain on building secure, scalable and future-ready solutions that strengthen trust, bridge digital divides and support sustainable development for businesses, governments and society alike," Kumar said.

The shift to software-based and cloud-hosted telecom services means security concerns now extend beyond carriers. Enterprises must coordinate across network teams, security operations and application owners. In many markets, regulators are also expanding rules around critical infrastructure, data protection and incident reporting.

Indian cybersecurity firm 5Tattva noted that the stakes are rising as telecoms become more deeply embedded in economic and civic systems. Manpreet Singh, co-founder and principal consultant at 5Tattva, pointed to the dual impact of rapid digitisation and expanding attack surfaces.

"As telecommunications networks evolve into the foundation of modern economies, governance and daily life, protecting digital communication infrastructure has emerged as a national imperative. The swift growth of connected ecosystems, AI-powered technologies and cloud-based communication platforms is reshaping global interactions, but it is simultaneously expanding the surface area for cyber threats. Sustainable digital progress demands robust telecom infrastructure, forward-looking cybersecurity strategies, and ongoing partnership between technology vendors, businesses, and regulators. As communication systems grow more interconnected, organizations need to prioritize network defense against emerging threats while safeguarding uninterrupted access, user privacy and public trust. India's digital trajectory hinges not just on broadening connectivity, but on cultivating secure and self-sufficient telecommunications ecosystems that can fuel innovation, drive economic growth and enable inclusive digital transformation," Singh said.