Vi Protect: Vodafone Idea Unveils AI-Driven Suite to Combat Spam, Scams & Cyber Threats

At India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Vodafone Idea (Vi) officially introduced Vi Protect, a comprehensive AI-powered safety and security platform targeting spam calls, scams, malicious links, and cyber threats across its consumer, enterprise, and core network segments.

Core Components & Capabilities

Vi Protect comprises several key modules:

Voice Spam Detection: Real-time identification of fraudulent or suspicious calls using AI models, web crawling, and user feedback. Incoming calls flagged as suspicious display a "Suspected Scam" label to help users decide whether to answer.

Network Defence & Incident Response: An AI-driven system protecting Vi's core and enterprise infrastructure. It aims to detect, analyze, and neutralize threats in under an hour, improving response speed and reducing false positives.

URL/Link Protection & Threat Analysis: (Announced future extension) to proactively block phishing, malicious links, and malicious payloads before they reach customers on voice, SMS, or data paths.

SMS / Spam Filtering & International Call Display: Vi Protect also includes enhancements to filter spam texts and a feature for recognizing legitimate international calls to help users distinguish between malicious and bona fide global calls.

Vi claims that its existing security systems have flagged over 600 million spam and scam calls and messages to date.

Why It Matters

As India's digital adoption expands aggressively, the volume of spam, phishing, and cyber threat vectors is escalating. Vi Protect is a strategic response to provide defense not just at the user edge, but across network infrastructure and enterprise operations.

Because its spam detection is integrated at the network level rather than relying on third-party caller ID apps, Vi argues the solution offers higher accuracy, lower latency, and better privacy.

Similarly, the network defence component uses agentic and generative AI models to detect anomalies and threats, and intends to restore or protect operations proactively.

Leadership & Outlook

Jagbir Singh, CTO of Vi, commented that protecting subscribers and securing infrastructure is central to Vi's mission in a digitally reliant India.

Vi also unveiled other related innovations at IMC 2025—such as an API-based fraud prevention tool and enhancements to its 5G/AI portfolio—positioning itself as a telecom operator that not only connects, but defends.

Vi intends to progressively roll out Vi Protect across its subscriber base, with priority given to high-risk segments and business users. The extension into URL protection and continuous learning threat engines will mark subsequent phases.