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INDUSTRY FACT FILE · TELECOMMUNICATIONS & CONNECTIVITY

Main Products and Services in Telecommunications and Connectivity

What telecom and connectivity providers offer, the systems behind each service and where they create cybersecurity and compliance exposure.

In this document

1. How telecom providers earn their money

2. Services by player type

3. Network infrastructure

4. Subscriber, enterprise and IT systems

5. The systems behind the products and services

6. Trends that change the attack surface

7. Mapping services to Codec Networks engagements

1. How telecom providers earn their money

Revenue stream	How it works	Security relevance
Mobile services	Prepaid and postpaid voice, data and messaging	SIM, core and billing security
Broadband	Fibre and wireless home and business internet	CPE and access network security
Enterprise services	MPLS, SD-WAN, leased lines, managed security	Customer networks depend on provider controls
Wholesale and interconnect	Carrier, roaming and infrastructure services	Signalling and interconnect security
Digital services	Messaging APIs, IoT, cloud and platforms	API and platform security

2. Services by player type

Player type	Main services	Key systems
Mobile operators	Voice, data, SMS, roaming, eSIM	RAN, 5G core, IMS, signalling, OSS/BSS
Broadband ISPs	Fibre, cable, fixed wireless access	OLTs, routers, CPE, DNS, BRAS
Enterprise connectivity	MPLS, SD-WAN, internet leased lines, managed security	Provider edge, orchestration, customer portals
Infrastructure providers	Towers, fibre, in-building solutions	Site management, remote monitoring
Network vendors	Equipment, software and managed services	Element managers, support tunnels, update channels

3. Network infrastructure

Networks combine radio access, fibre transport, IP routing, DNS and a core that is increasingly cloud-native for 5G. Network elements are managed remotely by operations teams and vendors through element managers and support connections—making privileged access and configuration integrity central to security.

4. Subscriber, enterprise and IT systems

Subscribers are onboarded through KYC at retail points and digital channels, served by CRM and billing (OSS/BSS) systems, and identified by SIMs that also deliver banking OTPs. Enterprise customers rely on managed SD-WAN and security services run by the provider.

Highest-risk moments

SIM replacements, vendor support sessions, network configuration changes and OSS/BSS administration are where telecom fraud and cyber attacks do the most damage.

5. The systems behind the products and services

Title: Figure 2: Where cyber risk sits in telecom networks and services. - Description: Figure 2: Where cyber risk sits in telecom networks and services.

Figure 2: Where cyber risk sits in telecom networks and services.

Product / service	Systems that deliver it	Key cyber and compliance touchpoints
SIM and onboarding	KYC systems, retail apps, SIM provisioning	Identity verification, dealer controls
Radio access	4G/5G RAN, small cells, sites	Physical security, configuration integrity
Transport and IP	Routers, BGP, DNS, peering	Hardening, RPKI and DNS security, DDoS defences
Core network	5G core functions, IMS, signalling	API authorisation, mTLS, Kubernetes security
OSS/BSS	Billing, CRM, provisioning, data lakes	VAPT, segmentation, ransomware resilience
Enterprise services	SD-WAN orchestration, managed firewalls	Multi-customer isolation, admin access controls

6. Trends that change the attack surface

Trend	What is changing	Security implication
5G standalone cores	Cloud-native network functions	Kubernetes and API security become network security
Network virtualisation	NFV and SDN replace appliances	Software supply-chain and orchestration risks
Private 5G and IoT	Industrial and campus networks	OT-grade segmentation required
Open RAN	Multi-vendor radio components	More interfaces and integration risk
New security rules	Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024	Policy, CTSO and reporting obligations

7. Mapping services to Codec Networks engagements

If the provider operates…	Recommended starting engagement
A 5G mobile network	5G core and signalling assessment, SOC
Broadband access	Router, CPE and DNS security reviews, DDoS testing
Managed enterprise services	SD-WAN and managed service security review
Large retail and dealer networks	SIM-swap controls review, dealer access monitoring
Vendor-supported networks	Vendor access and supply-chain assessment

Talk to Codec Networks

Contact

Codec Networks Pvt. Ltd.

New Delhi: 507, 5th Floor, New Delhi House, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001

Gurugram: 707, 7th Floor, Silverton Tower, Golf Course Extension Road, Sector 50, Gurugram – 122018, Haryana

Landline: 011 430 496 96 | 011 437 522 99 Mobile: +91 99716 76124 | +91 88007 88220 | +91 88003 31124

Email: mktg@codecnetworks.com Web: www.codecnetworks.com

Note: Descriptions are general and based on public information available as of October 2026. Telecom services are authorised under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and DoT rules.