Airtel Africa, which operates in 14 African countries, launched today a Spam Alert Service powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This service will offer its smartphone users and feature phone users real-time alerts when they receive suspected spam SMS messages.
Airtel customers do not need to download any additional applications. The feature is activated automatically. It will first be rolled out in Nigeria and then to other countries where Airtel Africa is present.
Dinesh Balesingh, Airtel Nigeria’s Managing Director and Chief executive officer, said at the launch of Airtel AI Spam Alert Service, in Lagos: “Enhancing the customer experience is our top priority and we are proud that Africa’s first AI spam alert solution has been launched. This is a game changer for the African telecoms industry and we will continue to address customers’ challenges with proactive tech-driven solution as we move forward. We are proud to announce this innovative initiative, which will be launched in Nigeria, Africa’s largest market, in the coming months.
Unsolicited SMS and calls are often received by hundreds of thousands of mobile phone users. They claim to be from the network provider or government, and offer irresistible offers. In these communications, the users are asked to click links and provide their personal information in order to claim benefits. This allows the scammer access to the users’ security information which can be used to commit fraud.
The AI-powered solution categorizes suspicious SMS messages as ““Suspicious SPAM” The AI analyzes in real-time over 250 parameters without reading specific SMS messages. This includes the sender’s usage pattern, such as SMS frequency, and the geographical spread of the targets. The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service filters all SMS using a proprietary double-layer protection. One layer is at the network level, and the other is at the IT system level. It processes over 1.5 billion SMS in 2 milliseconds.
The AI system can warn users against clicking on suspicious links by scanning each SMS in real time and maintaining a centralized database of blacklisted URLs. In order to achieve this, a central database of blacklisted links is maintained. The AI system scans every SMS in real-time and warns users not to click on suspicious links. This is a game changer for the African telecoms industry and we will continue to address customers’ challenges with proactive tech-driven solution as we move forward. We are proud to announce this innovative initiative, which will be launched in Nigeria, Africa’s largest market, in the coming months.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who was present at the launch, commended Airtel’s continued investment in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem and specifically for investing in a new service that is designed to enhance online security for millions Nigerians. “As we expand digital infrastructure and prioritize digital literacy, solutions such as Airtel AI Spam Alert Service reinforce the importance of leveraging AI, not only for safety but also for economic empowerment,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr Aminu Maida stated that the Airtel Spam Alert Service was of obvious benefit to all sectors. Airtel’s innovative service helps subscribers tackle security issues while increasing consumer confidence.
