Mobile cybersecurity breeds loyalty

Why smartphone security is becoming a strategic imperative for telecom operators

Smartphones have become an indispensable part of daily life, and mobile cybersecurity is no longer just a consumer add-on, it has become a strategic differentiator for telecom operators worldwide. Beyond connectivity, protecting subscribers from threats like fraudulent calls, smishing, phishing and malicious public Wi-Fi networks is now a core part of delivering a secure, high-quality mobile experience. 

Operators that integrate advanced cybersecurity features – including public Wi-Fi checking, operating system permissions auditing, scam call and SMS blocking, and phishing prevention – aren’t just safeguarding users. They are also unlocking business value through reduced churn, improved customer satisfaction and new revenue streams. 

The rising mobile threat landscape

Mobile devices are an attractive target for cybercriminals because they hold highly sensitive personal and financial data. Industry statistics paint a stark picture: 

• More than 75% of phishing sites today are designed specifically for mobile devices, reflecting attackers’ shift toward smartphone users.  
• SMS fraud and smishing attacks in Europe continue to grow rapidly, by 29% in 2025 compared to the previous year, as attackers leverage sophisticated techniques, including AI, to breach messaging channels. 
• Across regions, mobile spam and fraudulent traffic volumes have surged, prompting operators to deploy SMS firewall solutions that filter billions of malicious events annually.  

This threat environment not only harms individual users through financial loss and privacy breaches; it degrades trust in the mobile ecosystem and impacts the operator’s brand reputation. 

Cybersecurity features telecoms can offer 

Public Wi-Fi safety checking

Public Wi-Fi, while convenient, can expose users to man-in-the-middle attacks and malicious hotspots. Operators can deploy network-level security checks that warn or block unsafe connections, greatly reducing exposure to cyber risks when subscribers connect outside their home or cellular network. 

OS permissions and app risk auditing

Mobile cybersecurity solutions can assess installed apps and system permissions to identify risky behaviours, such as apps that request unnecessary access to sensitive information, and alert users or automatically restrict risky privileges. 

Scam call and SMS blocking

Tools that identify and block scam voice calls and fraudulent SMS directly at the network level have real impact. For example, telecom operators in Spain blocked 135 million fraudulent calls and about 5 million scam SMS within nine months under a concerted anti-fraud plan. Similar large-scale protections reduce exposure to false upfront charges and financial scams. 

Phishing prevention

By analysing web traffic and URLs accessed over the mobile network, operators can identify links to phishing sites and block or warn users before they are tricked into entering credentials. Network-level phishing prevention can dramatically reduce loss rates and improve user trust. 

Mobile risk scoring and device health checks

Mobile risk scoring brings cybersecurity to life for subscribers by turning invisible threats into clear, understandable insights. By continuously monitoring device health, from app permissions and operating system status to network connections and exposure to scams or phishing, operators can provide subscribers with a simple device health score that reflects their real-time risk level.  

Instead of reacting after something goes wrong, subscribers receive timely alerts, practical guidance and automatic protection when risks rise. For operators, this approach transforms security into a personal, always-on service that strengthens trust, encourages engagement and opens the door to premium protection tiers. The result is a more confident subscriber, a valued brand relationship, and greater differentiation in a crowded market. 

Quality of experience opportunities

Security threats directly influence consumers’ perception of mobile service quality. When subscribers are protected from fraud attempts, unwanted calls and intrusions:

• Customer experience improves: subscribers feel safer and receive fewer disruptions from malicious traffic. 

• Network trust increases: when trusted operators proactively block threats, users are more likely to remain loyal to that provider. 

• Support costs decrease: fewer fraud-related complaints reduce load on call centres and customer service teams. 

Operators that position cybersecurity as part of quality experience are aligning with customer expectations for reliability and peace of mind. 

Commercial impacts  

Reduced churn 

Customer churn is one of the biggest cost drivers for telecoms. While churn is influenced by many factors, perceived value is paramount and security is increasingly becoming part of that value equation. Customers that feel secure and know their provider has their back are less likely to switch. Though industry analyses vary, churn rates in mobile telecom can range between 15-25% annually without strong differentiation; services that increase satisfaction and confidence help counteract that trend.  

Increased ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) 

A core financial metric for telecoms that reflects revenue generated per subscriber, has been under pressure due to competitive pricing and commoditisation of core connectivity services. By introducing security as a service, either bundled or as a premium add-on, operators can create new revenue lines that increase ARPU and offset declines in purely data/voice revenue. 

For example, several European operators now offer tiered cybersecurity packages, from basic safe-browsing to full device protection, capturing incremental revenue while boosting customer value.  

Brand differentiation and long-term loyalty 

In mature markets where pricing alone is not enough to retain customers, cybersecurity can become a differentiator that strengthens brand perception. Operators that integrate protection seamlessly into their services build trust that transcends basic connectivity.  

A 2025 Simon-Kucher global study of over 15,700 telecom consumers across 31 markets found: 

• Loyal customers (those with 3+ years tenure) make up 75% of the subscriber base and generate 95% of customer lifetime value (CLTV), showing that long-term loyalty is crucial for revenue growth. 
• Retaining existing customers is 10 × more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, and long-tenured subscribers spend ~7% more than newly acquired customers. 

Regional and global telecom security efforts 

Worldwide, operators are increasingly investing in cybersecurity: 

• In Europe, major carriers including Vodafone, Orange and others have rolled out SMS firewalls and fraud detection systems that have blocked tens of millions of threat attempts shortly after deployment.  
• In North America, carriers such as T-Mobile and Verizon report blocking trillions of fraudulent or nuisance calls annually through network-level protections, significantly reducing fraudulent caller volumes.  
• Emerging markets are also enhancing protections; for example, some African and Asian networks report reduced cybercrime incidents on their networks post deployment of AI-powered solutions. 

In summary 

Mobile cybersecurity offerings from telecom operators, from Wi-Fi safety checks and app permission audits to fraud blocking and phishing prevention, deliver real value on multiple fronts. They enhance the quality of experience for subscribers, help reduce operational costs, boost ARPU through differentiated services, and strengthen customer loyalty by reducing churn. 

In a world where mobile threats are growing in frequency and sophistication, cybersecurity is no longer an optional add-on, it’s an essential building block of current and future telecom value propositions and a competitive advantage for operators willing to invest in it. 

At BlackDice we’ve developed BlackDice Angel, part of our BlackDice Halo cybersecurity orchestration platform built for telecom operators and their residential and SMB subscribers. BlackDice Angel is a lightweight, on-device security layer for iOS and Android that checks Wi-Fi, OS integrity, app permissions, identity exposure, and per-device DNS behaviour. Each area contributes to a unified device Risk/Health Score with clear, one-tap fixes. Add-ons include real-time Call/SMS/Messaging scam alerts and SMS URL blocking. 

If you’d like to find out more about how BlackDice Angel can help turn mobile security into a strategic customer loyalty driver and brand differentiator, get in touch.