MEF Mobile News Weekly Wrap

US Government Exposes China-linked Hackers Targeting Telecoms and Political Figures

The US government has identified a "broad and significant" cyber espionage campaign targeting commercial telecommunications infrastructure, allegedly conducted by China-linked hackers.

A joint statement from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officially confirmed the hackers breached multiple telecom companies, stealing customer call records and compromising private communications, including those of individuals involved in government and political activities.

The agencies noted that some data related to US law enforcement requests had also been copied.

While specific companies were not named, prior reports linked the group, known as Salt Typhoon, to attacks on networks operated by AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen.

The breaches reportedly targeted phones belonging to presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris ahead of the US election.

The telecommunications industry is set for significant changes in 2025, driven by emerging technologies and market shifts, according to Juniper Research

Artificially Inflated Traffic (AIT) will decline as firewalls improve fraud prevention, while travel-embedded SIM cards (eSIMs) will challenge traditional roaming services, a Juniper’s study says.

Direct-to-cell technology will launch commercially, and Wi-Fi 7 devices will offer alternatives to cellular technologies.

The Mobile Virtual Network Operator-in-a-Box (MVNO-in-a-Box) model is expected to disrupt connectivity markets, and Apple's adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) will bring the technology into the mainstream.

As the standardization of 6G begins, lessons from 5G will inform the process.

Operators will focus on network efficiency over capacity, and the development of quantum-resistant networks will gain momentum.

In particular, in the U.S. the industry faces slowing growth and intense competition with broadband growth at a record low of 2%, according to Kiplinger

Cable giants like Comcast and Charter are losing subscribers — the publisher of business forecasts says — as 5G home internet from T-Mobile and Verizon gains traction.

Providers are expanding networks, including rural and fiber deployments, to stay competitive.

Federal broadband initiatives and likely relaxed merger rules under the new Trump administration could drive consolidation, as for the Kiplinger newsletter — Kiplinger’s study reads.

Consumers benefit from more choices and better deals, especially through service bundling and new entrants like Starlink.

Telecom Operations Market to Reach $23.43B by 2032, Driven by 5G and Automation

The Telecom Operations Management Market is expected to reach USD 23.43 billion by 2032, growing at a rate of 8.95% annually from 2024 to 2032, according to a Market Research Future study condensed by Open PR.

The growth is driven by the rising demand for automation, digitalization, and cloud-based solutions in telecom operations.

Key areas include network management, billing, revenue assurance, workforce management, and customer relationship management, according to the report.

The expansion of fifth-generation networks, the integration of the Internet of Things, and the growth of streaming services are further boosting market demand, as telecom companies aim to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and meet increasing customer expectations.