Airtel Uganda Introduces Africa’s First AI-Powered Spam Alert Service to Combat Digital Fraud

Airtel Uganda today unveiled its ground breaking AI-powered Spam Alert Service, becoming the first telecommunications provider in East Africa to offer network-level protection against fraudulent messages. This innovative service is automatically available to all Airtel customers at no additional cost, requiring no app downloads or opt-in processes.

According to recent studies by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), over 60% of Ugandan mobile users receive potentially fraudulent messages weekly, with an estimated UGX 23 billion lost to mobile-based scams in 2024 alone. Rural communities and first-time smartphone users are particularly vulnerable, with nearly 40% reporting they have fallen victim to some form of mobile fraud.

The Airtel Spam Alert Service uses advanced artificial intelligence to analyse over 250 parameters in real-time, identifying suspicious messages and marking them as “SPAM ALERT” before they can harm customers. This proprietary dual-layer protection works at both network and IT systems levels, processing over 1.5 billion messages in just 2 milliseconds while maintaining customer privacy by not reading specific message content.

A key feature of the service is its ability to detect malicious web links in SMS messages by cross-referencing against a constantly updated database of blacklisted URLs, warning users before they click on potentially harmful links.

Speaking at the launch event in Kampala, Airtel Uganda Managing Director, SOM SOUMENDRA said, “At Airtel, we believe that innovation should serve a real purpose, that’s why we’ve introduced the Airtel Anti-Spam Service which is powered by AI to act as a safety net for our customers and the wider ecosystem.”

Soumendra further added, “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. Airtel Uganda understands that with greater digital access comes greater responsibility, and we are proud to lead the way in setting new standards for the network-level security,” he explained.

Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who was the guest of honour at the launch, stated: “Airtel Uganda has once again proven itself as a forward-thinking partner in our journey toward a digitally secure nation. 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. As the government, we remain committed to supporting private sector players who prioritise both innovation and public protection.”

What sets this service apart is its specific adaptation to the Ugandan context. The AI system has been trained on local scam patterns, including mobile money fraud schemes, fake job offers, and impersonation of government agencies that are prevalent in Uganda. As more users report spam, the system becomes increasingly effective at identifying new scam techniques.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, George William Nyombi, emphasised: “The Uganda Communications Commission’s mandate includes Safeguarding of critical assets, consumers, and the public from the different forms of communications-related harm. As a commission, we appreciate the dynamic nature of ICTs, and we are happy to see Airtel Uganda take the leap in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to solve a real sector problem; Scam follows Spam.”

This launch makes Uganda the 1st among Airtel Africa’s East African markets to receive this technology, with plans to roll out the service across the continent in the coming months.