The Untapped Growth Lever in Telco: Router-Based Cybersecurity

For years, cybersecurity in the telecom sector has been treated as a defensive line item; a necessary cost rather than a commercial asset. But that mindset is changing.

Today’s telcos operate in a very commoditised market. Speed, price, and coverage are no longer enough to win or keep customers. What’s emerging as a powerful differentiator? Trust. And trust is built through protection.

Router-based cybersecurity isn’t just a technical upgrade. It’s a commercial growth lever: driving revenue, retention, and customer satisfaction in ways DNS-based solutions can’t match.

DNS-Based vs. Router-Based Cybersecurity: What’s the difference?

Feature/Impact	DNS-Based Filtering	Router-Based Cybersecurity
Deployment Level	Network-level (telco DNS)	CPE/router-level
Threat Coverage	Known DNS threats only	DNS, IP, URL, behavioural, LAN
Device-Level Control	✗ None	✓ Full per-device visibility
Customer Visibility	Minimal or none	In-app insights and alerts
Customisation & Tiers	Flat, hard to monetise	Tiered packages (e.g. Family)
Bypass Resistance	Lower (can be overridden)	High (DoH blocking, tunnelling)
Support Insight	Network-only view	Device-level diagnostics

Reduce Churn by building digital trust

In an EY study, 65% of consumers said they’d stay loyal to a provider that protects their digital lives. Meanwhile, 74% of LATAM users would switch providers after a single bad digital experience (Accenture).

Router-based security gives customers what DNS filtering can’t: visibility, control, and peace of mind. Whether it’s app-based alerts, parental controls, or per-device usage insights, users feel safer—and that emotional stickiness translates into retention.

Our advice:
Build security into your value proposition as a core feature; not a hidden back-end service. Highlight control, not complexity.
Mark O’Neill – CTO, BlackDice

Grow ARPU with packages

DNS filtering is largely invisible and one-size-fits-all. It’s hard to monetise, and even harder for customers to perceive value from. Router-based cybersecurity changes that. It enables differentiated packages like:

Family Safety Mode with device scheduling
Smart Office protection for hybrid workers
Gamer Mode with low-latency filtering

These upgrades consistently deliver $1–$2/month ARPU uplift (GSMA Intelligence). That’s meaningful margin on your existing subscriber base.

Our advice:
Introduce security tiers as part of your broadband bundles. Sell peace of mind as a lifestyle upgrade.
Rachael Simpson – Brand Strategist, BlackDice

Differentiate in a market of ‘sameness’

Speed and price are no longer true differentiators, they’re expected. But device-level cybersecurity, embedded in the router and managed via a sleek app? That’s visible. Tangible. Hard to copy.

In a parity-heavy market, perception of value matters. Router-based solutions offer clear proof points that resonate with families, small businesses, and digital-first users.

Our advice:
Treat cybersecurity as a visible, ownable brand asset; like your logo or network performance score.
Sarah Hague – COO, BlackDice

Strengthen customer relationships with proactive protection

Most DNS systems are reactive and anonymous. They block something in the background – customers often don’t even know it’s there…

In contrast, router-based security allows telcos to send proactive alerts, usage reports, and device warnings. This transforms you from a silent utility to a trusted digital life partner.

Our advice:
Use threat alerts as a branded engagement tool… an opportunity to demonstrate value, not just deliver it silently.
Mark Mullings – CGO, BlackDice

Cut support costs with smarter subscriber protection

Fewer infections, fewer phishing incidents, fewer device-level misbehaviours. That’s the hidden ROI of router-based cybersecurity. By offering deeper diagnostics and household-level insight, telcos can reduce inbound call volumes and shorten resolution times, all while improving NPS.

Our advice:
Integrate device-level threat data into your customer support dashboards. It empowers CS teams and reduces escalations.
Eduardo Navarro – Customer Adoption Partner, BlackDice

Final thoughts: Security is the new ”stickiness”

Router-based cybersecurity isn’t just about blocking threats. It’s about growing revenue, deepening trust, and future-proofing your brand in a saturated market. Telcos that continue to treat security as a silent backend function will miss a powerful opportunity. Those that embrace it as a customer-facing, monetisable service will win – not just share of wallet, but share of heart.

Want to learn how BlackDice helps telcos monetise trust? Let’s talk.

News & Insights