During the second day of the 20th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, held from October 20–21, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence, under the theme ‘Tech Intelligence Beyond Mobility,’ industry experts explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping cybersecurity and strengthening digital infrastructure.The panel, ‘Cybersecurity Redefined: Securing Digital Infrastructure,’ moderated by Dr. Nadia Brahmi, Technology Director at GSMA, examined AI-driven cyber threats and defenses, biometric authentication, data protection, and strategies for building resilient networks.The discussion brought together the following leaders:Gregg Sanders, Director, Digital Innovation and Pre-Sales Solutions, NEC GCCCharbel Sarkis, Director, Systems Engineering, FortinetEmaad Ahmed, Chief Expert, ICT, Huawei Middle East and Central AsiaAndrew Cowely, Account Executive, Global Security Sales, CiscoAI Reshapes the Cybersecurity Arms RaceArtificial intelligence is accelerating both cyberattacks and cyber defense, creating an increasingly complex security landscape. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 94% of respondents expect AI to be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity in the year ahead, while 87% identified AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk during 2025.Sarkis argued that AI is lowering the barriers to sophisticated attacks by accelerating vulnerability discovery and exploit development. While advanced techniques have traditionally required highly specialized expertise, AI could make them more accessible.
“The techniques are the same, so we need to move as fast as AI moves,” he said, emphasizing the need for cybersecurity providers to adopt AI to keep pace with emerging threats.
Moreover, Cowely highlighted AI’s ability to help security analysts cut through alert noise, identify genuine threats, and respond at machine speed. However, he cautioned against granting AI unrestricted authority over critical systems. Automated interventions must account for business impact, legal requirements, and operational context.
“This is where the human-in-the-loop mentality must be applied,” Cowely stressed, explaining that human oversight remains essential when automated decisions could disrupt business operations. AI may improve detection and response times, but analysts must retain control over consequential actions.
Ahmed approached the challenge through network autonomy and secure-by-design principles. He distinguished between using AI to optimize networks and building networks capable of supporting AI applications. As autonomous agents increasingly interact, he emphasized the importance of secure communications, encryption, defined policies, and mechanisms to reverse automated actions.He also highlighted the need to establish boundaries around AI autonomy, with human oversight remaining important as networks evolve toward higher levels of automation. He suggested that fully self-guiding and self-optimizing networks remain a longer-term ambition rather than an immediate reality.Biometrics, Digital Identity, and the Next Generation of Network SecurityAs deepfakes and identity spoofing become more sophisticated, cybersecurity experts noted that biometric authentication can no longer operate in isolation. Sanders explained that attacks have evolved beyond physical presentation methods, such as masks, to injecting synthetic video directly into camera feeds or operating systems, potentially bypassing conventional liveness detection.He emphasized the need for layered protection spanning trusted devices, secure infrastructure, media inspection, and AI-powered monitoring. Risk-based authentication can add another safeguard by identifying unusual behavior and requesting additional verification when suspicious activity occurs.
Sanders also highlighted the sensitivity of biometric data, warning that compromised facial information cannot be replaced as easily as a password. He advocated working with trusted providers that protect biometric information through secure processing and encryption, rather than storing facial images unnecessarily.
Sarkis reinforced the need for a layered approach, particularly in consumer applications used for banking and digital services. He cited scenarios in which malicious software could simulate a camera driver and inject deepfake footage into an application, making users believe they were completing legitimate facial verification.“There is a huge responsibility on the application developers,” Sarkis said, urging banks, enterprises, and service providers to anticipate emerging attack methods and build greater resilience into their applications. Combining application-level safeguards with additional authentication mechanisms is essential to addressing threats that conventional biometric checks may miss.Looking ahead, Ahmed discussed how 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks could strengthen digital identity, data integrity, and trust. He pointed to advances in cryptographic protection and key distribution, while envisioning a more verifiable internet in which users could access cloud computing capabilities without unnecessarily exposing sensitive information.
Ahmed highlighted privacy-preserving technologies, including zero-knowledge proofs, as potential enablers of this model. He also warned that pervasive sensing capabilities could intensify privacy risks as connected devices and immersive technologies expand.
Governments and Industry Must Unite Against CybercrimeThe panel concluded by emphasizing that combating scams and digital fraud requires coordinated action among governments, telecom operators, technology providers, and users. Cowely pointed out how operators use AI to analyze vast volumes of network events, identify suspicious patterns, and share threat intelligence internationally.However, he stressed that governments must establish frameworks encouraging operators to report incidents and exchange intelligence with cybersecurity companies. Cross-border cooperation and effective regulation are essential to help the industry identify emerging threats and prevent attacks from spreading across markets.Sarkis asserted that the speed of AI-driven attacks demands faster information sharing. He suggested reconsidering how malicious domains, indicators, and other threat-related information are classified, enabling relevant intelligence to be shared more rapidly without unnecessary confidentiality restrictions.Cowely also called for greater harmonization of cybersecurity standards and incident-reporting requirements across countries. Telecom operators operating in multiple markets often face different compliance obligations and reporting procedures, creating friction that can delay coordinated responses.
The discussion underscored the need for consistent standards, timely threat intelligence sharing, and stronger public-private partnerships. As AI accelerates cyber threats, governments and industry must reduce regulatory barriers and improve collaboration to protect users and strengthen digital resilience across borders.
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