Bharti Airtel has expanded its AI-powered spam detection tool to support 10 Indian languages, aiming to curb the growing threat of spam and scam calls, including international ones. In a significant push towards digital safety, Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of its advanced AI-driven spam detection system in 10 regional Indian languages.
This expansion comes as the telecom giant tackles a sharp 12% increase in international spam calls over the past six months, a threat that has been increasingly bypassing domestic filters. With this move, Airtel subscribers using Android smartphones can now receive scam alerts in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, and Urdu — bringing spam protection to India’s vast linguistic diversity.
AI-Powered Defense: Local and Global Spam Calls Under Watch
Airtel’s innovative AI spam detection system is engineered to identify and flag suspicious communications in real time. Since its rollout in September 2024, the AI tool has already flagged over 27.5 billion spam calls, resulting in a 16% reduction in spam for users. Initially launched in English, the new multilingual upgrade ensures deeper penetration across non-English speaking regions.
With spammers now turning to foreign networks to evade national-level filters, the tool plays a critical role in stopping international scam calls before they reach users. As cyber threats evolve, so must our technology. We are committed to ensuring every Airtel customer, regardless of language, gets spam protection,” said Siddharth Sharma, Director (Marketing) & CEO (Connected Homes) at Airtel.
Enhancing Digital Security: AI and Data Science at the Core
Airtel’s spam detection tool harnesses the power of machine learning, advanced data science, and real-time analysis to scan billions of incoming calls and SMS messages. The AI model is continuously updated by Airtel’s in-house engineering and data science teams to recognize newer scam techniques.
The multilingual capabilities ensure that users across urban and rural India are equally protected. Whether the scam call comes from a domestic number or an international gateway, Airtel’s system is trained to detect and categorize it accordingly.
Regulatory Backing: Supporting TRAI and DoT Anti-Spam Measures
Airtel’s proactive stance aligns closely with broader government efforts to enhance digital trust. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have been tightening norms around unsolicited commercial communications (UCC) and telemarketing fraud. By integrating AI tools that operate in multiple languages, Airtel is also helping regulators bridge the digital divide and ensure inclusive protection.
“We believe that multilingual AI solutions are the next big leap in telecom security. Our teams are working hard to evolve our platform to stay ahead of spam trends,” Sharma added.
The Road Ahead: User Empowerment Through Technology
With scam calls ranging from fake OTP frauds to phishing schemes and social engineering attacks, Indian telecom subscribers are increasingly vulnerable. Airtel’s AI detection system not only filters spam but also empowers users to report suspicious numbers, helping refine the model further. As the company continues to improve the platform, future updates may include iOS support, deeper integration with government spam registries, and advanced fraud categorization.
Conclusion
Airtel’s expansion of its AI spam detection solution to 10 Indian languages marks a significant leap in telecom safety and digital inclusion. By proactively addressing the surge in domestic and international scam calls, the company is ensuring its users are better protected, regardless of the language they speak. As the Indian telecom landscape continues to evolve, tools like these will play a vital role in ensuring trust, security, and seamless connectivity for millions of users.
About The Author
