New Delhi, May 21 -- Airtel, India's second-largest telecom firm by subscribers and revenue, has called on its competitors to collaborate on what it calls a 'joint telecom fraud initiative'. The aim is to create a common platform with Reliance Jio, Vodafone-Idea and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd to tackle the growing menace of cyberfraud proliferating over telecom networks.

This follows the launch of Airtel's proprietary, AI-driven tool, which will operate in the backend to automatically detect and block malicious links in text messages (SMS), OTT messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and emails.

Airtel claims the tool, which is auto-enabled for its mobile and broadband users, is a global first....