BSNL launches default SMS phishing protection for customers nationwide

BSNL has launched nationwide network-level protection against spam and smishing SMS for all mobile users. Malicious links are blocked in real time without affecting legitimate messages, using AI-powered filtering in partnership with Tanla, with protection enabled by default

Hyderabad: BSNL on Thursday announced the nationwide roll-out of its network-side Anti-Spam and Anti-Smishing protection for mobile customers—no app to install, no settings to change.

Suspicious and phishing URLs in SMS are detected in real time and withheld at the network edge, so spurious links are not delivered to BSNL users, while legitimate OTPs, banking alerts and government messages continue to flow under TRAI’s DLT/UCC framework.

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The solution was previewed during India Mobile Congress 2024 and is now being extended across BSNL circles as part of ongoing cutovers.

Built with a leading India-based cloud communications platform, Tanla, the system combines AI/ML, NLP, reputation intelligence and link expansion to score messages at line-rate, and works in concert with an industry blockchain DLT stack already adopted by Indian telcos to curb unsolicited commercial communication.

The underlying technology has been recognized for 99 per cent plus efficacy against smishing and operates at a national scale, with ecosystem integrations (e.g., major web and messaging platforms) to rapidly neutralise new campaigns.

Protection is on by default for all BSNL mobile subscribers in live circles. For more information: 1800-180-1503 or www.bsnl.co.in.