Electronic communications services are the key to global connectivity, economic and business infrastructure, as well as public safety and national security, President of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) Valeriu Zgonea said at the Digital Innovation Summit Bucharest (DISB) 2025 on Tuesday.

'As in Europe, we also have other responsibilities, other duties, in the postal area, spectrum management, the equipment market, but also what is today very, very important in all European sector debates: digital services, as the coordinator of digital services. When we talk about digital services, we have strived to make the best use of our tools and to collaborate with other relevant authorities, civil society and digital platforms, for example, to reduce systemic risks during electoral processes, combat disinformation or hate speech online. The telecommunications sector is extremely important today. I am sure that all of you agree that electronic communications services are not only essential for our daily activities but also represent the key to global connectivity, economic and business infrastructure, as well as public safety and national security,' said Zgonea.

The head of ANCOM also underscored that a key dimension of the present and future is ensuring the resilience and security of the telecommunications infrastructure and services in an increasingly digitised world.

'As you know, networks and technologies evolve day by day, second by second, combining terrestrial and, currently, non-terrestrial networks and systems, integrating advanced computing with Artificial Intelligence and facing the widespread use of applications and APIs. The state of security is more important than ever. Telecommunications companies have become priority targets for both state-sponsored actors and financially motivated cybercriminals (...) Our telecommunications networks have been resilient so far, but if we do not focus on diversification, difficult times will come for us as well. It is not a matter of 'if' a major cyberattack on our telecommunications networks will take place, but 'when' and 'how',' Valeriu Zgonea said.

In the official's view, another important point refers to the Internet exchange points and data centere providers, 'the future of Romania's digital landscape.'

'You know much better than I do that cyber threats have no borders. Neither should our countermeasures. This is where infrastructure security comes in as a shared responsibility. Not only bodies like national regulators in Europe but also operators, governments and international partners have a role. In a digital era, critical infrastructure supports economies and societies. Dialogue between nations is essential to establish norms, share information and build trust. Romania is actively involved in the global conversation. We are close to our EU member state partners. We are discussing within the BEREC [Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications] body, with the European Commission, to align our policies as a member state with the visions and values of the EU, ensuring that our network is not only robust but also interoperable across borders,' said the president of the communications regulatory authority.

He also added that blockchain offers tamper-proof ledgers that can enhance infrastructure security, from authentication and network access to securing data exchanges.

'Romania is a leader in this field, hosting today three nodes... There are also challenges related to blockchain technologies that must be addressed, such as interoperability, integration with legacy systems, high energy consumption, and, last but not least, personal data protection. This is the current landscape in which we are stepping. The digital sector is at a crossroads, the context is clear: we are not just adapting to a changing world, but we have the opportunity to define it. The challenges are evident, but they also represent an opportunity to rethink, reimagine and rebuild,' Zgonea highlighted.

ICI Bucharest organises a new edition of the Digital Innovation Summit Bucharest (DISB) from April 8 to 11, at the Palace of Parliament.

This year's edition brings together over 200 speakers from more than 30 countries. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)