Securing the Digital Utility: Cyber Resilience Through Private LTE and Licensed Spectrum

As utilities accelerate digital transformation and grid modernization, they face an increasingly complex threat landscape driven by surveillance capitalism, state-sponsored cyber operations, criminal organizations, rouge actors, and tech-based hybrid warfare.

This expert panel will bring together leaders from across the communications and utility sectors, including LTE consultants, utility CTOs and CIOs, Ericsson, Nokia, Anterix, and UTC cybersecurity leadership to examine how Private LTE (pLTE) networks built on licensed spectrum such as Band 8 (900 MHz) and other secure frequencies can establish a robust, sovereign communications foundation for critical infrastructure.

Discussion topics will include:
• Cybersecurity and operational advantages of owning and managing private LTE infrastructure versus reliance on public carrier networks and aging networks, including antiquated technologies.
• End-point cybersecurity challenges across Windows, iOS, and Android environments, including vulnerabilities in voice and data communications, Field Area Networks (FAN), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and NB-IoT ecosystems.
• Cross-platform exposure risks created by intrusive mobile apps, leaky operating system telemetry, and cloud dependencies that can compromise OT/IT integration.
• Best practices for securing utility communications across generation, transmission, distribution, and field operations through spectrum ownership and top-down security strategies.
• Policy, governance, best practices, supply chain security, and spectrum considerations that support long-term resiliency and operational independence.