NCC Group comments on the UK Government’s new Telecoms Diversification Taskforce report

The Telecoms Diversification Taskforce, an independent group set up by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has published its latest report on the diversification challenges and opportunities within 5G mobile access networks.

Along with areas of focus for future investment and long-term research, the report recommends working with telecoms regulators to encourage best practice in security and open networks, and identifying areas of investment to accelerate the development and adoption of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology.

Commenting on the report, James Williams, head of Technology, Media and Telecoms at NCC Group, said: “In today’s highly connected landscape, the telecoms sector plays an ever-increasingly critical role in ensuring the safety and security of businesses and individuals. The focus placed on security in the latest report from the Telecoms Diversification Taskforce is a significant step towards greater resilience for all.

“In particular, we welcome the report’s recognition of the need for greater security at every stage of telecoms innovation. As 5G technology and Open RAN accelerates, the focus must remain on the rigorous assessment of these new systems which, while bringing commercial and operational benefits, also bring new security challenges for the sector.

“As government and industry place even more attention on a growing research and development ecosystem, long-term investment in security testing and research must remain paramount. Data and intelligence-driven security measures should be built into the standards and policies surrounding supply chains, networks and perimeters, particularly as systems become more complex and accessible via API.”