Airtel Africa has on Tuesday announced that its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Spam Alert service has detected more than 205 million spam SMS messages across 13 of its 14 markets in just six months.
The free service, which is automatically available to all Airtel subscribers, warns users of suspicious text messages by tagging them with a “SPAM Alert” notification.
Since its rollout, Kenya has emerged as the biggest hotspot, with 68 million spam messages flagged, followed by Tanzania at 47 million and Zambia with 33 million. In Malawi, where the service launched in July 2025, over 8 million messages have already been identified as spam.
Overall, Airtel Africa reports a 12% decline in spam activity, with Nigeria leading the way, having recorded an 84% reduction in unwanted SMS since the system’s introduction.
Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, said the service reflects the company’s commitment to harnessing advanced technologies for customer safety.
“We are proud to pioneer an advanced tech solution powered by AI in tackling spam messages that are a major concern in Africa as smartphone penetration increases. This free service is yet another demonstration of our commitment to consistently innovate to deliver an unmatched experience and safer network to our customers,” Taldar said.
The Spam Alert system, currently active in 13 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Madagascar, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, DRC, and Niger, uses AI to analyse SMS in real time. The system classifies messages as spam based on sender behaviour, usage patterns, and frequency.
With cyber threats and fraudulent schemes on the rise, Airtel Africa says the Spam Alert service is a key step toward ensuring a safer digital environment for its more than 150 million subscribers across the continent.
The telecommunications company is expected to launch the service in Seychelles next.
