Since 28 February 2026, with tensions flaring between Iran, the United States and Israel, and as the war in Ukraine continues to take its toll on Europe in the long term, one reality has become clear: national security is no longer confined to traditional military spheres. It is also at stake in networks, in data, in critical infrastructure and in the ability to maintain resilient and continuous communications.
Against this backdrop, governments are realigning their priorities around national security, resilience and technological sovereignty. And telecoms operators are no longer peripheral players. Networks are now regarded as strategic assets, essential to the continuity of vital services, crisis coordination, critical communications and defence capabilities. Vodafone states this explicitly: secure connectivity is now a pillar of European defence and resilience. Orange, for its part, has now placed these issues at the very heart of its organisation.
Across Europe, operators are taking the lead on this issue. In 2025, Orange Business launched its division dedicated to defence and security. In March 2026, the French operator launched Orange Drone Guardian, the first anti-drone solution. Very recently, Telefónica announced a partnership with Airbus Helicopters Spain. The aim of this agreement is to enhance the hyperconnectivity of military aircraft. Other operators, such as BT, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, continue to develop their offerings in this race, which has become a political pillar for European and international nations.
This is no longer a niche market, reserved for a few specialist manufacturers, but a fundamental issue for all stakeholders contributing to the resilience of states. In an environment marked by the return of high-intensity conflicts, hybrid threats and growing demands for sovereignty, telecoms now appear to be an essential component of national security. These issues are therefore no longer merely an opportunity for diversification, but matters that are set to continue gaining importance in the years to come.
Sources:
- Vodafone: Europe’s digital backbone: Why secure connectivity is now a core pillar of defence, January 2026
- Orange: Orange Business launches Orange Drone Guardian, Europe’s first anti-drone ‘as a Service’ offering, March 2026
- Telefónica: Telefónica Spain and Airbus Helicopters Spain join forces to drive 5G hyperconnectivity in the defence and security aviation sector, March 2026