Operators invest more than $17bn in AI-based security to capitalise on the Telco B2B opportunity

A new study from Juniper Research, the foremost experts in telecommunications and connectivity, has found that operators will invest more than $17 billion globally over the next five years into AI-based network security. Their total investment grows from $2.5 billion in 2025 to $4.6 billion in 2029.

Juniper Research has attributed this expected additional spend to operators’ greater focus on growing their B2B revenue streams for industries such as transportation, healthcare and energy, where the security of networks is imperative. The report identified the use of AI to create intelligent and autonomous systems in network security as foundational to growing B2B revenue.

An extract from the new report, AI in Cellular Networks Market 2025-2029, is now available as a free download.

Autonomous Network Security Key to Unlocking B2B Revenue Growth

As operator revenue from traditional sources continues to slow, Juniper Research believes that greater investment in enterprise-focused solutions is a key strategy. However, successful B2B strategies will require operators to continue to enhance their network security. Operators will fail to capture the opportunity for B2B revenue growth if they do not make the necessary investments to assure enterprises that their data will secure. 

While AI is already being used to analyse data and automate manual security operations, Juniper Research believes to effectively secure B2B, traffic operators must orient their strategies on autonomy, with technologies such as agentic AI being key to creating intelligent and autonomous network security systems.

Research author Alex Webb remarked: “Agentic AI will enable operators to inject autonomy into their network security operations; responding in real-time to threats to the network while retaining efficiency. These systems will better position operators to protect enterprise traffic; providing the foundation for strong B2B revenue growth.”