The concept of dual use
Dual-use technologies range from artificial intelligence, low-orbit satellites, drones, big data and 4G/5G mobile networks to future 6G networks, as well as cybersecurity and quantum computing solutions. Their ‘dual’ nature stems from the possibility of being applied simultaneously to both strengthening civil connectivity and supporting surveillance, defence or crisis management activities.
This hybrid nature requires, and will increasingly require, governments, businesses and multilateral organisations to establish governance models that balance innovation, competitiveness and security.
This balance can be seen, for example, in connectivity projects using low-orbit satellite constellations, which today serve both to expand internet access in remote areas and to monitor borders or environmental emergencies. Similarly, artificial intelligence systems used in predictive network maintenance can also be adapted for cybersecurity or critical incident response purposes. These cases illustrate how the boundary between civil and strategic is becoming increasingly blurred.
The role of telecommunications
The telecommunications sector occupies a unique position in this debate, as networks not only enable the adoption of dual-use technologies, but also become an integral part of critical national infrastructure. In this regard, three challenges that will arise in the short term can be highlighted: ensuring the resilience and cybersecurity of networks in scenarios of intensive use of these technologies; enabling interoperability between civil and security systems; and acting in areas of public-private cooperation, in a transparent manner, anticipating risks and aligning coordinated responses as far as possible.
During the G20 Summit (2024), in the preparations for BRICS (2025) and more recently for COP30 (2025), this strategic dimension became evident. The sector was invited to join working groups alongside the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, in the area of Critical Infrastructure Security (GSI-SIC), coordinating prevention and response measures to protect critical telecommunications infrastructure during these events.
The institutional perspective
From an institutional point of view, the debate on dual-use technologies is not limited to technical issues, but has also generated public discussions on ethics, self-regulation mechanisms and levels of trust between public and private actors.
Institutional Relations play an increasingly essential role in this process, facilitating constructive dialogue with regulators, public policy makers and security agencies, fostering the creation of multi-sector collaborative environments and promoting the development of convergent standards that avoid regulatory gaps and ensure global interoperability standards.
Entities such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) forums, as well as debates on the regulation of artificial intelligence in the OECD and the European Union, are examples of initiatives that seek precisely to establish coherent regulatory frameworks capable of ensuring global interoperability and preventing regulatory gaps.
Challenges and future paths
The discussion on dual-use technologies is just beginning and will need to be consolidated through the integration of existing and emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, cloud computing and 5G, further driven by investment in new critical infrastructure that includes, in addition to terrestrial and mobile networks, data centres, submarine cables and satellite constellations.
In the broader horizon, profound transformations will emerge, driven by technologies such as quantum computing, artificial general intelligence (AGI) and 6G. In this hyperconnected environment, the level of strategic integration between telecommunications, critical infrastructure, digital public infrastructure (DPI), cybersecurity and cyber defence will be even greater, requiring international cooperation, institutional response capacity and dynamic regulatory frameworks.
Against this backdrop, there will be a growing need for the evolution of collaborative governance models that integrate innovation, security and development. The role of telecommunications will be not only operational but also strategic, as a link connecting the different dimensions of society, from the digital economy to national and regional security.
Conclusion
Dual-use technologies place the telecommunications sector at the epicentre of a complex and challenging technological revolution: that of ensuring robust, secure and resilient connectivity, while contributing to the reliability of critical infrastructure and the digital autonomy of nations.
Therefore, rather than merely accompanying technological transformation, it will be necessary to lead the institutional dialogue, building bridges between innovation, regulation and security, in order to ensure that the future of telecommunications is sustainable and inclusive.
