TPG Telecom has significantly ramped up its efforts to protect customers from AI-driven scam and spam calls, thanks to the introduction of advanced machine learning technology from network software provider Mavenir. The Australian telecoms company, which operates Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, and felix brands, has seen a 280% increase in the number of fraudulent calls blocked before they reach its mobile users.
Mavenir’s CallShield solution, introduced earlier this year, has already made a substantial impact. In the first six months of 2024 alone, the technology blocked nearly 19 million fraudulent mobile calls, averaging 103,000 illicit calls per day. This marks a significant rise compared to the 4.9 million scam calls prevented in the same period in 2023.
TPG Telecom, which had already been using Mavenir’s SpamShield technology to protect against fraudulent SMS for several years, is now benefiting from the more comprehensive CallShield solution to tackle the growing threat of scam voice calls. This solution is designed to protect customers across TPG Telecom’s entire network and brands.
The rise in AI-driven fraud and scams has created new challenges for telecom providers globally. Criminals are increasingly using sophisticated AI techniques, including deepfake technology, to create automated calls designed to deceive consumers. TPG Telecom’s Chief Technology Officer, Giovanni Chiarelli, highlighted the importance of staying ahead of these threats.
“Our business is built on the trust of our customers. We are committed to embracing new technologies that provide the best possible protection against the nuisance and threat of malicious harm posed by these spammers and scammers,” said Chiarelli. “We are pleased Mavenir’s CallShield technology is providing real-time, automated security analysis and effective security for customers across our voice services.”
In addition to blocking scam calls, Mavenir’s technology also intercepted more than 59.6 million fraudulent text messages in the first half of 2024. The ability to block both unwanted calls and texts is a key element of TPG Telecom’s broader effort to enhance security for its customers.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that phone scams cost Australians A$141 million in 2022, underscoring the financial and emotional impact of these crimes. Regulators like the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) are now pushing for more stringent measures to crack down on the problem and ensure operators are doing enough to protect their users.
Mavenir’s CallShield solution uses machine learning to provide real-time security analysis across voice services. Traditional fraud prevention techniques have relied on static rules, but CallShield’s algorithms are dynamic, adapting to current network conditions and subscriber behaviour to detect and block spam and fraud attempts before they reach customers.
Jan Schaar, Mavenir’s Asia Pacific Regional Vice President, explained the importance of a proactive approach. “The speed and sophistication of the techniques being employed by scammers and fraudsters means that a reactive security approach based on purely ‘reporting’ spam is no longer enough,” said Schaar. “We need to work harder and smarter, continuously learning from and anticipating the scammers’ next move.”
With Mavenir’s technology already delivering results across TPG Telecom’s SMS and voice services, the company is looking forward to expanding its use of machine learning-driven tools to further protect customers from emerging threats.
