The Communications Risk Information Centre (COMRiC) has marked a major milestone by launching its first-ever Sector Report, a groundbreaking publication that critically examines the escalating state of telecom crime, risk, and resilience across the nation.
South Africa’s burgeoning digital landscape, with over 44 million citizens now online, faces an unprecedented threat as its communications infrastructure becomes an increasingly prime target for sophisticated criminal enterprises. The Communications Risk Information Centre (COMRiC) has marked a major milestone by launching its first-ever Sector Report, a groundbreaking publication that critically examines the escalating state of telecom crime, risk, and resilience across the nation.
The 2025 Sector Report paints a stark picture: four out of five South African organizations fell victim to ransomware last year, a significant surge from just over 50% the year prior. This rise signals criminals’ growing exploitation of vulnerabilities across various digital platforms, from cloud services to emerging AI algorithms. Beyond cyberattacks, the report details widespread physical sabotage of telecom infrastructure, including fiber cable cuts and cellular tower vandalism driven by the illicit trade in copper and batteries. This blurring of lines between cybercrime and organized crime is driving up the cost of inaction daily.
“What’s missing is not just budget, but coordination. We need a united front. Telcos, ISPs, broadcasters, regulators, banks – everyone in the communications chain must share intelligence, respond to threats together, and speak with one voice when it comes to protecting consumers.”
–Thokozani Mvelase, CEO, COMRiC.
South Africa possesses the innovative capacity, technical expertise, and moral imperative to lead the African continent in establishing safe, ethical, and resilient communications. But, as Mvelase concludes, this will only materialize if trust becomes a strategic priority not after the next breach, but now.
This article originally appeared on Tech https://techafricanews.com/2025/07/22/south-africa-telecom-sector-faces-crisis-80-of-firms-hit-by-ransomware-in-past-year/Africa News. Click here to read the full story.