KAMPALA, Uganda — Airtel Uganda has launched an AI-powered Spam Alert Service, positioning itself as the first telecommunications provider in East Africa to offer network-level protection against the rising tide of digital fraud plaguing mobile users, the company announced Wednesday.
The innovative service, which requires no additional cost, app downloads, or user opt-in, will automatically flag suspicious messages for all Airtel subscribers.
The move comes against a backdrop of increasing mobile-based scams in Uganda. Recent Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) data indicates that over 60% of mobile users in the country receive potentially fraudulent messages weekly. These scams cost Ugandans an estimated UGX 23 billion ($6.2 million USD) in 2024 alone, with rural communities and those new to smartphones disproportionately affected, nearly 40% of whom report falling victim.
Airtel’s new system employs advanced artificial intelligence to analyze over 250 parameters in real-time. Suspicious messages are identified and tagged with a “SPAM ALERT” notification before they can reach subscribers. This proprietary dual-layer security operates at both the network and IT systems levels, processing over 1.5 billion messages in just two milliseconds, according to Airtel, while ensuring customer privacy by not accessing the content of the messages themselves.
A key feature highlighted by the company is the service’s ability to detect malicious web links embedded in SMS messages. The AI cross-references these links against a continuously updated database of blacklisted URLs, providing users with a warning before they potentially click on harmful content.
Speaking at the Kampala launch event, Airtel Uganda Managing Director Som Soumendra emphasized the company’s commitment to practical innovation. “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,” he said.
Soumendra 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.”
Uganda’s Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, lauded Airtel’s initiative. “Airtel Uganda has once again proven itself as a forward-thinking partner in our journey toward a digitally secure nation,” he said. “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.”
Airtel highlighted that the AI system is specifically trained on local Ugandan scam patterns, including those involving mobile money fraud, fake job offers, and impersonation of government agencies. The system’s accuracy is expected to improve as more users encounter and report spam, further refining its detection capabilities.
George William Nyombi, Executive Director of the Uganda Communications Commission, underscored the regulatory body’s support for such technological advancements. “The Uganda Communications Commission’s mandate includes Safeguarding of critical assets, consumers, and the public from the different forms of communications-related harm,” he stated. “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.”
The launch marks Uganda as the first among Airtel Africa’s East African markets to receive this technology, with the company indicating plans for a broader rollout across the continent in the coming months.
