A coalition comprising seven governments has initiated a groundbreaking set of voluntary cybersecurity and cyber resilience principles aimed specifically at 6G, the forthcoming generation of mobile networks. This coalition, known as the Global Coalition on Telecoms (GCOT), was officially established in October 2023. Its primary mission is to foster a shared commitment to develop telecommunication networks that are secure, resilient, and innovative.
The founders of GCOT include Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The coalition recently welcomed Finland and Sweden at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona in 2026, reflecting a growing international concern for telecommunications security in the face of rapid technological advancement.
At the same congress, GCOT unveiled the 6G Security and Resilience Principles, which have been crafted in collaboration with notable industry partners. These partners include major players in the telecommunications and technology sectors, such as AT&T, BT, Ericsson, NVIDIA, Nokia, Qualcomm, Rakuten Mobile, Samsung Electronics, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone. Together, these organizations represent a formidable alliance aimed at shaping the cybersecurity landscape for the 6G networks of the near future.
While the standardization processes for 6G are still in the early stages, with key industry groups predicting initial commercial rollouts targeted for 2029-2030, GCOT is confident that broad working assumptions can be derived from existing frameworks like IMT-2030 and preliminary studies conducted by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This foresight has led the coalition to evaluate significant trends anticipated with 6G technology. The group predicts that there will be increased virtualization of network functions, resulting in disaggregated architectures that enhance security visibility and facilitate better integration among various vendors. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be natively integrated to optimize network performance and introduce new user services.
To translate these forecasts into actionable guidelines, GCOT has meticulously developed four core security principles and four resilience principles. These principles are intended to act as foundational elements in forming 6G standards, emphasizing the importance of resilience against both cyber and physical attacks, as well as the reliability of supply chains. Furthermore, these guidelines serve as valuable resources for all stakeholders involved, as articulated in a statement released by the UK government on March 3.
Rob Joyce, the Director of Mobile Access Engineering at Virgin Media O2, underscored the importance of these foundational principles. He noted, “Although the commercial launch of 6G networks is some years away, it is helpful to establish at an early stage the principles that will guide the development of 6G and ensure its success.” This perspective highlights the proactive approach taken by the coalition to lay strong groundwork that could shape the future landscape of mobile communication.
GCOT’s Security and Resilience Objectives for 6G Networks
The security and resilience objectives outlined by GCOT are designed to highlight essential priorities that member states and industry partners should focus on in the ongoing development of the 6G framework. The principles include:
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Containment: The design of the 6G system should restrict the capacity for malicious actors or software to propagate throughout the network, limiting potential widespread vulnerabilities.
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Confidentiality: By default, the 6G architecture must prioritize the protection of user data privacy, ensuring that data is processed securely and confidentially, even in environments that are not physically secure.
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Integrity: The system should uphold the integrity of data, providing assurance that any alterations to data while it traverses the network are detectable. It should also maintain the integrity of the network infrastructure itself.
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Resilience: 6G networks are expected to be highly resilient, maintaining service availability even under extreme conditions. This is particularly critical for emergency services and first responders, who require uninterrupted communication as the transition to 6G progresses.
- Regulatory Compliance: 6G operators must ensure that they can meet relevant national regulations and legislative requirements, fostering a compliant and secure network environment.
GCOT has also emphasized the need for robust failover mechanisms in future 6G infrastructures to guarantee uninterrupted connectivity during disruptions. The coalition advocates for incorporating complementary and alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions beyond Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to mitigate vulnerabilities associated with signal loss and interference.
Moreover, the coalition supports the adoption of Open RAN frameworks and guiding principles, which aim to promote flexibility, interoperability, and innovation within the telecommunications ecosystem.
In a statement, GCOT asserted, “The technological innovation anticipated from 6G, coupled with its integral role in national infrastructure, will necessitate fundamental protections and mitigations to be integrated from the outset.” This acknowledgment underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts among governments, telecommunications providers, and their system suppliers, including those involved in cloud and data infrastructure. Close cooperation with domestic and regional regulatory bodies, as well as public-private partnerships, will be crucial to ensure a shared understanding of potential threats and to achieve robust compliance.
Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA, welcomed the initiative, stating that his company is actively developing AI-RAN platforms that aim to translate these guiding principles into operational realities within software-defined, AI-native 6G networks. Likewise, Eva Fogelström, Head of Security Research at Ericsson, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with all GCOT partners to ensure that the next phase of advanced connectivity is characterized by not only high performance and resilience but also inclusivity, sustainability, and readiness for the future.
In conclusion, the establishment of GCOT and the introduction of the 6G Security and Resilience Principles signal a significant commitment to safeguarding the future of global telecommunications against evolving cyber threats. With a strategic focus on foundational principles, GCOT aims to steer the industry towards a secure, resilient, and innovative 6G landscape that benefits all stakeholders and users alike.