Channel Live 2026: AI, telecom innovation and the future of fraud prevention by Gary Pragnell, Founder

Channel Live 2026: AI, Telecom Innovation & The Future of Fraud Prevention

By Gary Pragnell, Founder

I had a informative day yesterday at the Channel Live 2026 Event, at Tobacco Dock, it was great to meet so many people from across the channel. This year’s focus on AI really stood out, and it’s clear that the technology is moving from conceptual to practical, everyday applications within telecoms.

AI Transforming Telecom Operations

Across the exhibition floor, I saw some impressive demonstrations of how AI is being applied to real‑world telecom challenges. From smarter call‑management systems to automated workflows and enhanced customer‑interaction tools, it’s clear that AI is becoming an integral part of how our industry operates. The level of innovation on display was encouraging and showed just how much potential there is for improving efficiency and service quality.

AI & Cybersecurity: A Shift in Pace

The cybersecurity seminars were particularly insightful. One of the key messages was that AI isn’t necessarily making attackers more technically advanced, but it is increasing the speed and volume of threats. That shift means the fundamentals matter more than ever—strong patching routines, good access controls, effective monitoring, and well‑trained teams.

As one speaker put it, “Be very, very good at the basics.”

Government Policy & Fraud Prevention

I also attended an excellent session from Tracey Wright, Chair of Comms Council UK (CCUK). She shared updates on the government’s approach to fraud prevention and the role the telecoms industry is being encouraged to play.

The government is asking operators and resellers to strengthen:

• Know Your Customer (KYC) processes

• Data‑sharing practices

• Customer verification

• Cross‑industry collaboration

This is currently a voluntary initiative, but it’s clear that the industry has an opportunity to lead the way and demonstrate best practice.

£250 Million Over Three Years

Tracey also highlighted the government’s commitment to tackling fraud through the 2026–2029 Fraud Strategy, which includes £250 million of investment over the next three years.

This funding supports:

• A new Online Crime Centre bringing together telecoms, law enforcement, banks, and major tech firms

• Better tools for identifying call origins

• Initiatives to reduce spoofing and number misuse

• Improved data‑sharing between operators

One initiative I’m particularly encouraged by is the development of a central telephone numbering repository database is a particularly promising step toward reducing number misuse.

A Forward‑Looking Event

Channel Live 2026 was a valuable opportunity to see how quickly our industry is moving and how important collaboration will be in shaping what comes next. AI is accelerating innovation, government policy is strengthening, and there’s a clear sense of shared purpose across the sector.

A big thank‑you to the organisers, exhibitors, speakers, and the wider #CommsCouncilUK #CCUK #ChannelLive community for an informative and thought‑provoking event.