Airtel flags 98.4 billion spam calls amid rise in digital fraud
New Delhi, Sept 25 (TNT): Telecom operator Airtel on Friday clauned it has identified more than 98.4 billion spam calls and 4.4 billion spam messages through its AI-powered Safe Network initiative over the past two years, while blocking more than 1.62 million malicious links.
In a release, the telecom firm said the growth of digital services across banking, payments, healthcare, commerce and government services has been accompanied by an increase in cyber fraud, including impersonation scams, fake banking requests, malicious links, investment fraud and OTP-linked scams.
It said its Safe Network initiative was launched in 2024 as a network-based, AI-powered spam detection system designed to protect customers from spam calls and messages without requiring additional applications or manual reporting.
The company’s network-level spam detection system, launched in September 2024, has since identified more than 98.4 billion spam calls and 4.4 billion spam messages, according to Airtel.
Its malicious-link detection system has blocked more than 1.62 million links shared through SMS, messaging applications, emails and browser redirects for mobile and Wi-Fi broadband subscribers.
Airtel has also introduced AI-based protection against OTP-linked fraud and business-name display features aimed at helping users distinguish verified enterprise calls from potentially fraudulent numbers.
The company said the initiative reflects a broader shift towards telecom networks playing a role in identifying and reducing digital security risks beyond providing connectivity.
TNT KS
