Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Cisco device vulnerabilities, rural 5G in South Korea, Huawei, ZTE, among others.
Chinese Hackers Target Canadian Telecom Firms Using Cisco Device Vulnerabilities
Chinese hackers called Salt Typhoon targeted Canadian telecom companies by exploiting vulnerabilities in Cisco devices. In February 2025, attackers accessed three network devices of a Canadian telecom firm using CVE-2023-20198. They retrieved configuration files and set up GRE tunnels to capture network traffic. This attack is part of a wider espionage campaign affecting telecom firms in the U.S., Italy, South Africa, and Thailand. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the FBI warned telecom companies to strengthen cybersecurity to prevent similar breaches. The telecom industry is responding by adopting cybersecurity measures such as encryption and network monitoring to protect systems from cyber threats. Telecom providers are also working with international agencies to share threat information and improve infrastructure security against cyber espionage, SecurityWeek reports.
South Korea Accelerates Rural 5G and AI-Driven Telecom Innovations
South Korea’s telecom companies SK Telecom, KT Corp., and LG Uplus completed a shared 5G network in rural areas ahead of schedule to improve connectivity outside cities. SK Telecom joined the GenAI Impact Consortium with MIT to apply generative AI in telecom operations for better service and efficiency. South Korea is expanding technology cooperation with Israel and Japan, focusing on artificial intelligence and semiconductors. SK Telecom and Nokia will commercialize AI-based fiber sensing technology to monitor network infrastructure in real time. This technology aims to detect issues early and reduce service interruptions. These efforts reflect ongoing projects to develop telecom networks, integrate AI, and enhance infrastructure through international partnerships, The Korea Herald reports.
Huawei Drives Telecom Innovation by Integrating AI into 5G-Advanced Networks
Huawei is advancing telecom by integrating AI into 5G-Advanced (5G-A) networks, improving operations, user experience, and services. In network operations, Huawei’s RAN Intelligent Agent autonomously generates solutions, boosting maintenance efficiency. It resolved an optical path fault with ten times the usual efficiency and supports real-time network optimization and energy-saving policies across many cells.
For user experience, the agent optimizes network performance and energy use based on real-time data. It has operated across 223 cells for thousands of hours, maintaining stable performance and reducing energy consumption.
In service offerings, the agent evaluates network resources in real time, enabling operators to launch new services. For example, the 5G-A livestreaming assurance package provides uplink speeds to fruit farmers for livestreaming, showing how operators can innovate business models and accelerate monetization.
ZTE Partners with Uzbekistan to Boost Telecom and IT Infrastructure
ZTE Corporation has partnered with Uzbekistan to improve telecommunications and IT infrastructure. The partnership includes setting up Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centers in Samarkand and Ferghana, with a $100,000 investment from ZTE. These centers aim to enhance communication services and increase internet access, especially in remote areas. ZTE is also involved in building new data centers in Uzbekistan to support digital infrastructure. Additionally, the company is working with Tashkent University of Information Technologies to open a smart classroom to promote digital education and develop talent.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
