> The push toward Open RAN, virtualization, and “cloudifcation” unlocks more choice and functionality for 5G operators. It has also thrust them into the unfamiliar role of system integrator, suddenly responsible for securing the entire supply chain.

I've worked with mobile operators before... most of them don't do any virtualization and cloudification, or any-fication... directly at all. They just buy a whole solution from ericsson/nsn/huawei, and configure it exactly as the vendor tells them to (in most cases, by sitting down and watching the vendor representative do it themselves). Sometimes it even comes in a prebuilt rack, that they just set up and connect and wait for the representative to configure.

Are they hackable? Probably. But telcos being unfamiliar with 'cloud' (which is not true) is not the reason why.