New Delhi: Bharti Airtel and Google have declared that they have formed a strategic alliance to launch a safer and AI-based rich messaging platform to millions of users in India. The partnership combines the network intelligence of Airtel with the Rich Communication Services (RCS) of Google to enhance the spam protection and increase the interaction of users with the high-quality multimedia messaging.
The action will help deal with the increased risk of mobile spam and digital fraud, particularly in the context of the current messaging platforms. Airtel and Google are collaborating to establish a safe and trusted messaging ecosystem that is supported by real-time AI-based protection through integrating telecom-grade security with platform-level intelligence.
Airtel expands its fight against spam
During the last 18 months, Airtel has been cracking down on AI-based spam and fraud. The telecommunication company boasts of having blocked 71 billion spam calls and 2.9 billion spam SMSes. Such initiatives have seen it register a 68.7 per cent reduction in financial losses on its network.
However, the company mentions that traditional telecom networks are organised in accordance with strict safety regulations, and most of the OTT messaging systems do not have such measures. This loophole has been tapped on more and more by fraudsters and spam operators.
Extending telco-grade security to RCS messaging
This security gap is targeted to be filled in the new partnership. Through the incorporation of the intelligence systems at Airtel into the Google RCS platform, customers will have the privilege of having a better spam filter, authentic sender authentication, and fraud detection capabilities.
Most Android smartphones have Google Messages, which allows access to messages sent through RCS. High-resolution photo and video uploading, the ability to react to messages, and interactive functionality are supported by the service and are associated with powerful security checks.
Key safety features for users and businesses
The platform provides various layers of security. These are the verification of business identity with telco support, adherence to the user’s Do Not Disturb (DND) preferences and classification of messages into promotional and transactional categories.
The business messages that are spam will be prevented before reaching the user. Unhealthy links will be passed through multi-level threat detection systems. Moreover, suspicious senders that are identified by the combined AI systems of Airtel and Google will have their messages throttled.
In the case of enterprises, the service has guaranteed communication channels, making it easy to recognise a valid business message by the customer. This will likely create a stronger level of trust and allow engaging customers more safely.
A blueprint for secure digital communication
Gopal Vittal, the executive vice chairman of Bharti Airtel, reported the alliance that offers customer protection beyond the scope of standard telecom. He also included that Airtel is requesting other OTT communication systems to cooperate in addressing spam and financial fraud.
Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat of Google spoke of the move as a move towards making messaging security the same across all carriers worldwide.
The cooperation is being marketed as a global pioneer case of how the telecommunication operators and technology platforms can be merged. Airtel and Google will establish a new standard of secure digital messaging in India by combining telco-level safeguards with AI-powered platform smarts.