‘Telcos face rising risks in AI, ineffective transformation’
Telecommunications firm, Globacom, has thrown its weight behind Nigeria’s digital development efforts at the ongoing business roundtable of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Broadband Investment and Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, underestimating changing imperatives in privacy, security and trust remains the top risk facing telecommunications companies in 2026, underlining the continued urgency of challenges in these areas for the industry.
The roundtable, which began on Wednesday at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja with the theme ‘Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity’, featured stakeholders from federal and state governments, the private sector, telecom operators and regulatory bodies.
Industry pundits described the roundtable as a veritable forum for synchronising public and private sector interests in the bid to achieve Nigeria’s broadband targets, improving policy coordination, and closing existing digital gaps –especially in underserved and rural communities.
The gathering will advance practical strategies for expanding Nigeria’s broadband footprint and strengthening infrastructure security across the country.
In a statement, Globacom explained that its sponsorship and active participation were in tandem with its continued commitment to fostering a viable digital future for Nigeria.
Globacom is providing logistical and technical backing for the success of the two-day event, in demonstration of its commitment to undertaking a connected, inclusive and secure digital ecosystem.
The company’s involvement also offers a strategic platform to influence policy direction, particularly around Right of Way (RoW) issues, infrastructure investment incentives, and long-term regulatory frameworks that affect broadband expansion.
ACCORDING to the yearly EY report, ‘Top 10 risks in Telecommunications’, telcos’ responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) practices are falling short, while their cybersecurity functions feel under-prepared for a shifting threat landscape. And while a changing geopolitical environment brings new challenges, telcos can also take advantage of the drive towards digital sovereignty.
The EY Responsible AI Survey reveals that only 59 per cent of telco respondents state they have a robust methodology for identifying, assessing and mitigating the risks associated with AI, against 66 per cent across all sectors. In terms of specific measures used to provide trust in AI systems, telcos are less likely to leverage internal audits, AI ethics policies and third-party attestations, compared with all other sectors.
A further cause for concern is that telcos’ cybersecurity functions are struggling to broaden their role and remit while responding to an evolving cyberthreat environment. The leading internal challenges cited by industry chief information security officers (CISOs) surveyed in a recent EY study are inadequate cybersecurity budgets (55 per cent), difficulties in balancing cybersecurity with the speed of corporate innovation (40 per cent), and a lack of cybersecurity input into cross-functional leadership decision-making (36 per cent). Increasing the strategic impact and influence of the cybersecurity function will require greater commitment across telecoms organisations.
EY Global Telecommunications Leader Cédric Foray said: “Telcos appear to be lagging behind other sectors in the adoption of measures to improve trust in AI. Customer receptivity to AI is not a given, meaning greater focus on responsible AI frameworks is essential. As part of this, telco leaders should be engaging regularly with cyber specialists to ensure that their approach is strategically fit for purpose.”
