Telecoms networks must be ready to defend against cyberattacks

DISCLOSURES by the Singapore authorities on Monday (Feb 9) that four major telecom operators were targeted by cyberattackers in 2025 should serve as a wake-up call for the industry in South-east Asia.

While there were no service disruptions or evidence that customer data was stolen, reports suggest that the attackers did gain access to some critical systems and technical network-related data.

This was not a random cyber incident, and it was not aimed at stealing the personal data of customers. It was a deliberate attempt to probe and understand Singapore’s communications networks and systems, infrastructure that is critical to the functioning of its economy and society.