Overview:
Airtel Uganda introduces Africa's first AI-powered Spam Alert Service to protect customers from digital fraud, offering network-level security.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Airtel Uganda on Wednesday introduced an AI-powered Spam Alert Service, claiming to be the first telecommunications provider in East Africa to offer network-level protection against fraudulent messages.
The service, automatically available to all Airtel customers without any additional cost, app downloads, or opt-in requirements, aims to combat digital fraud.
According to recent Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) studies, over 60% of Ugandan mobile users receive potentially fraudulent messages weekly, with an estimated UGX 23 billion lost to mobile scams in 2024. Rural communities and new smartphone users are particularly vulnerable, with nearly 40% reporting they have been victims of mobile fraud.
Airtel’s Spam Alert Service uses artificial intelligence to analyze over 250 parameters in real-time, identifying suspicious messages and marking them as “SPAM ALERT” before they reach customers. The company said this proprietary dual-layer protection operates at both network and IT system levels, processing over 1.5 billion messages in 2 milliseconds while protecting customer privacy by not reading message content.
The service can also detect malicious web links in SMS messages by comparing them against a constantly updated database of blacklisted URLs, warning users before they click on potentially harmful links.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Airtel Uganda Managing Director Som Soumendra said the service acts as a “safety net” for customers and the wider ecosystem.
“Alerting our customers on digital fraud is a top priority, and our commitment is not just to connect Ugandans, but also to support them as they navigate the digital world,” Soumendra said.
Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, praised Airtel Uganda for its innovation in addressing online fraud.
“This AI-powered Anti-Spam service is exactly the kind of innovation we envisioned when creating policies to support tech-driven solutions to real challenges like online fraud,” Baryomunsi said.
Airtel said the AI system has been trained on local scam patterns prevalent in Uganda, including mobile money fraud, fake job offers, and impersonation of government agencies. The system’s effectiveness is expected to increase as more users report spam.
Uganda Communications Commission Executive Director George William Nyombi said the commission appreciates Airtel Uganda’s use of AI to address the issue of spam and scam.
Airtel said Uganda is the first of its East African markets to receive this technology, with plans for a continent-wide rollout in the coming months.