Brands/Products
Why Airtel Spam Alert Service is a Game Changer for Mobile Security
By Joan Aimuengheuwa
By embedding real-time spam alert at both the network and systems level, Airtel strengthens trust in telecom infrastructure, a foundational element for digital economies, ensuring cross-network security accountability, proving that telcos can and should take more responsibility for securing the digital environment, not just selling data plans.
Have you ever won a “N5 million giveaway” from a number you’ve never dialled? Or been warned that your BVN would be “blocked in 24 hours” unless you click a link? If you never fell for these, then congratulations, you’re a part of Nigeria’s club named, The National Association of Spam SMS Survivors.
That’s not a real club though, but seriously, in 2024 alone, fraud in Africa surged by 21%, with phishing and SMS scams responsible for nearly half (48%) of all incidents.
As revealed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the country’s financial sector lost over N52.26 billion to fraud, a 350% increase, over five years. This tells us that mobile networks are no longer used as just channels of communication, they are becoming active fields for criminals.
This is why Airtel’s launch of a Spam Alert Service in March 2025 couldn’t have been better timed. It is a commendable effort that also signifies in mobile security across Africa. It is beyond merely reacting to fraud; it appears to be preventing it in real time.
The Scale of the Problem
Nigeria is ranked 7th globally for spam SMS. Research shows that 87% of mobile users in the country receive unsolicited messages, many of which are fraudulent. Airtel itself reported that its internal analysis showed that 60% of its customers were receiving spam monthly.
These are not just annoying messages, they open the gates to fraud, asking users to click dangerous links or share sensitive data.
And while East Africa leads the continent with a 27% fraud rejection rate, West and Central Africa still struggle at 22%. The threat has gone beyond a telecoms issue, we can see it’s now an economic and societal one.
Airtel’s Intelligent Countermeasure
Airtel Africa, with over 150 million subscribers and operations in 14 countries, has responded with a network-level AI-powered Spam Alert Service.
While some members of the public have raised concerns over likely privacy breaches, Airtel has confirmed that the Artificial Intelligence in the backend of the Spam Alert Service does not read user messages. Instead, it analyses over 250 parameters including the frequency of the sender, message volume, link patterns, and geographical spread.
At its core, the service simply identifies and flags suspicious SMS messages in real time, labelling them as “Suspected SPAM” and alerting the recipient immediately. It requires no app download, no user configuration, and is automatically activated for all Airtel users, smartphone or feature phone. It’s a simple, although not easy, solution to a thorny problem.
Using a proprietary dual-layer protection system, one at the network level and another at the IT systems level, Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is reported to process over 1.5 billion messages in under two milliseconds.
Real Time Results
Between it launch in Nigeria on March 13 and May 20, 2025, just two months, the Spam Alert Service flagged 9,667,008 suspicious messages, according to Airtel reporting. That number includes 528,080 sent by userson the Airtel network (on-net) and 9,138,928 sent by users from other networks (off-net).
This staggering number indicates both the scale of fraud attempts and the importance of cross-network security measures. The Airtel system doesn’t just defend its own users, it monitors the messages entering the network from outside, offering an additional layer of safety for subscribers.
According to Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, this innovation reiterates the strength of the telco’s AI-driven infrastructure in tackling the threat of spam and scam messages. “We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication,” he stated, adding that, “This is why the AI is constantly learning, so as to keep pace with the changes in methods employed by spammers.”
Why This is a Game Changer
Network-Level Protection: Unlike most solutions that depend on user-side apps, Airtel’s service operates within its core infrastructure; it is always on and scanning, making it harder for threats to go undetected.
No User Action Required: There are no installations, updates, or settings for users to worry about.Every Airtel user, regardless of their phone type, gets protected by default.
Real-Time Alerts: The AI flags spam SMS in milliseconds, giving users feedback on potentially harmful messages as the messages arrive.
Scalable and Inclusive: Whether you’re using a basic feature phone in rural Tanzania or a smartphone in Lagos, you get the same level of protection, and this makes the service replicable in all of Airtel’s markets across Africa.
National Support and Expansion
Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, endorsed the solution, commending Airtel for aligning with national priorities.He stressed that the Airtel Spam Alert Service demonstrates how artificial intelligence can enhance online security and economic empowerment.
Similarly, Dr. Aminu Maida, EVC/CEO of the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), noted the sector-wide value, pointing out that it boosts consumer trust and directly supports national telecom security goals.
Following its success in Nigeria, the service has now expanded to Tanzania and Kenya, with a rollout planned for all 14 countries where Airtel operates.
Feedback from early users has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have reported improved personal awareness to SMS messages.
According to Balsingh, the AI Spam Alert Service is not a one-off solution, it is embedded in Airtel’s focus on integrating intelligent systems across its offerings while improving user experience. With threats becoming more sophisticated, “so will our solutions,” he said.
The company’s Spam Alert Service is a necessary evolution in how we think about mobile security, proactive, intelligent, and inclusive. Mobile phones are lifelines to finance, communication, and commerce, and this service does more than pinpoint spam, it restores user confidence.
And across the current digital space, confidence is indeed everything.
Brands/Products
EvaluatePR to Explore ‘PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026’
P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s leading independent media intelligence and PR measurement agency, will host the 31st edition of its flagship thought-leadership platform, EvaluatePR, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (WAT).
Themed PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026, this virtual session will convene professionals across public relations, communications, and media measurement to explore how algorithms, artificial intelligence, and digital ecosystems are reshaping reputation management, media influence, and audience trust.
With the increasing role of automation in communications, the event will challenge professionals to rethink how credibility is built and sustained in a fast-evolving digital landscape, while emphasising the need for transparency, ethical measurement, and strategic intelligence.
The session will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers representing diverse expertise across global communications, media intelligence, and analytics: Felicia Nugroho – Director, Analytics & Insights, Maverick Indonesia / Chair, Asia Pacific & International Board Director, AMEC; Cyrille Djami – Founder & Publisher, CommsOfAfrica; Strategic Communications, Editorial and Influence Consultant; Amrita Sidhu – Managing Director, Medianet / Director & Board Representative, AsiaNet / Board Member, AMEC; and Satira Osemudiamen Oreweme – Principal Consultant, Satira Media & Public Relations Limited.
Together, they will lead insightful discussions on how communicators can navigate the intersection of technology and trust, maintain authenticity in automated environments, and leverage data-driven intelligence to deliver meaningful communication outcomes.
Participation in the session is free, with access available via the official registration link: https://bit.ly/4stWjUh
Brands/Products
Indigo Wins Another SABRE Africa Award
Integrated Indigo Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service marketing communications consultancy firms, has once again proved its mettle as an agency to reckon with, not only in Nigeria but also across the continent, by winning another award at the 2026 Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation & Engagement (SABRE) Awards recently held in South Africa.
Indigo won in the Industrial/Manufacturing category for its impactful ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign executed for Lafarge Africa Plc. The award-winning ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign was designed to challenge gender stereotypes and promote inclusivity within the industrial and manufacturing sector, while amplifying Lafarge Africa’s commitment to empowering women through innovative and purpose-driven initiatives.
Last year, the agency emerged as the winner for its effective communication strategy and execution on the Nigerian Breweries Plc Rights Issue.
Commenting on the win, the Managing Director/CEO, Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola, explained that the success of the campaign was driven by a shared vision between the agency and Lafarge Africa Plc, noting that the win reflects the agency’s long-standing commitment to delivering impactful and purpose-driven campaigns that go beyond traditional communications.
Abimbola added that such recognitions serve as both validation and motivation for the agency to continue pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and delivering innovative solutions that create real value for clients and society at large.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign. This win is a testament to our consistency and dedication to breaking new ground by relentlessly pushing bold ideas, building impactful collaborations, and fostering strong partnerships. We are proud of the impact this campaign has created and grateful to our clients for trusting us to bring this vision to life,” he said.
Abimbola also commended the Integrated Indigo team for their creativity, passion, and resilience, noting that the award reflects the collective effort of a team committed to excellence and innovation.
“I would like to celebrate our incredible team for their commitment and drive. This achievement belongs to every individual who contributed to making this campaign a success. We remain focused on pushing boundaries, delivering value, and continuing to create meaningful impact for our clients and the communities we serve,” he added.
As it celebrates this milestone, Integrated Indigo reaffirms its commitment to delivering innovative communication solutions, pushing boundaries, and creating campaigns that generate lasting impact.
The 2026 Africa SABRE Awards shortlist includes more than 120 campaigns, selected from over 500 entries in this year’s competition, which recognises Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation and Engagement. The campaigns were evaluated by a jury of industry leaders. The 2026 Africa SABRE Awards took place on March 17 in South Africa.
Brands/Products
Moniepoint Acquires Orda to Explore Africa’s $50bn Restaurant Economy
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A leading cloud-based restaurant management platform operating in Nigeria, Orda Africa, has been acquired by the continent\s all-in-one financial ecosystem platform, Moniepoint Incorporated.
The acquisition of Orda comes as Africa’s food service industry experiences unprecedented growth, with the sector valued at $50 billion and Nigeria’s market alone projected to reach $19.31 billion by 2030, growing at 11.73 per cent annually.
With Orda’s restaurant-focused capabilities now part of the Moniepoint ecosystem, the platform is well-positioned to capture this opportunity.
Business Post gathered that Orda will now become part of the Moniebook platform, the all-in-one Point-of-Sale (POS) and business management platform of Moniepoint.
Since launching its business management tools product in 2025, Moniebook has rapidly become the go-to platform for thousands of African businesses seeking integrated financial and operational tools, seamlessly unifying payments and bookkeeping in one platform.
With Orda, restaurant owners can now gain access to this proven ecosystem that creates unprecedented opportunities to scale operations, optimise performance, and access credit, as well as the extensive reach of Moniepoint, which has powered growth for millions of African businesses.
“The food industry isn’t just about feeding people; it’s a major source of jobs and daily survival for many Africans. It highlights how vital the informal sector is, not just for the economy, but for everyday life across the continent,” the chief executive of Moniepoint, Mr Tosin Eniolorunda, said.
Data has shown us that Africa’s restaurant sector is one of the continent’s most dynamic economic engines, yet the majority of food businesses still operate with manual processes and fragmented tools.
“By bringing Orda into Moniepoint, we are giving restaurant owners what they deserve: one simple platform that handles everything from managing their kitchen to growing their business.
“Our goal remains to create financial happiness for Africans, giving them the tools to reach their full potential, and that’s exactly what we’ve built here,” he added.
Also commenting, the chief executive of Orda, Mr Guy Futi, said, “Orda has found the perfect home in Moniepoint. We have spent years building deep expertise in restaurant operations, but we have always known that to truly transform the industry, we needed to connect that expertise with comprehensive financial infrastructure.
“That’s exactly what this integration delivers. For our customers, we are assuring a smooth transition with no disruption to the platform and retained access to the support you are used to. What changes is your access to opportunities. Over the coming weeks, being part of Moniepoint means you’ll have more tools, more reach, and more ways to grow your business than ever before.”
Moniepoint was established in 2015 by Mr Eniolorunda and Mr Felix Ike. The firm has considerably expanded its offerings to include digital payments, business and personal banking, credit, cross-border payments, and business management tools, with a customer base exceeding 20 million active businesses and personal banking customers and processes over $250 billion in digital payment transaction value annually.
On its part, Orda was formed in 2020 to give Africa’s small and independent restaurants the tools they need to run more efficiently, providing a purpose-built software to businesses that had long operated without it.
Combining their respective strengths, Moniepoint and Orda are expected to deliver a purpose-built solution that empowers food businesses at every scale to manage orders, track inventory, pay suppliers, and access working capital, all in one seamless experience.
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