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The 2025/26 Telecommunications Risk Factor Survey reveals a decisive pivot in the global telecoms and data centre sectors, marked by sharper operational, regulatory and financial pressures. This aligns with BDO’s Global Risk Landscape 2025, which cautions that a reactive, compliance-led approach to risk is ill-suited to today’s “permacrisis” environment, where systemic shocks have become the norm.
This year’s findings highlight a significant shift in risk priorities from 2023, where regulatory and tax‑based risks dominated, to more immediate operational concerns. In 2025, Cybersecurity has surged to the top of the global rankings, with 85% of operators citing it as a critical risk.
While supply‑side fragility, driven by dependence on key vendors, is another defining theme, industry‑specific risks remain pronounced. These include competitive pressures, natural disasters, and the uncertainties of 5G rollout – a new risk in 2025, shaping strategic outlooks. This shift in focus signals a broader recalibration, as the industry moves from simply managing policy exposure to actively addressing tangible threats that directly disrupt continuity and resilience.
Additionally, though coming in 10th position this year, a notably larger proportion (70%) of telecommunications operators and data centres cite climate change and other environmental concerns as a growing risk. This is likely to increase as a going concern in the years ahead, and one that all operators will need to plan and strategise around.
This report forms part of BDO’s Telecommunications Risk Factor Survey. A companion Executive Summary Report distils the key insights, visuals, and region‑level highlights for senior decision‑makers who require a concise, high‑ impact view of the findings. Readers are encouraged to access that version for a rapid strategic overview or to share with leadership teams seeking a snapshot of the global risk landscape.
How BDO can help
BDO helps telecommunications operators and data centre businesses address today’s evolving risk landscape by strengthening cyber, operational and resilience-focused risk frameworks. We support organisations in moving beyond compliance to better anticipate disruption and protect business continuity in an increasingly volatile environment.
Please reach out to the relevant partner in your local BDO firm for further information.
Original content provided by BDO Global
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