Airtel Africa, the continent’s leading telecommunications company, has signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership with Xtelify, a fully owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, to deploy a cutting-edge, AI-powered software platform. This strategic move aims to simplify telecom operations and enhance customer experiences across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets.
According to Airtel’s official website, the deal will introduce a global AI-powered platform with advanced capabilities for telecom operators.
Key Features of the Partnership
- AI-Powered Platform: Xtelify’s software will equip Airtel Africa’s 150,000-strong field team with critical market insights, enabling precise and targeted strategies.
- Advanced Spam and Fraud Protection: The platform will strengthen customer protection by supporting critical functions such as spam detection and fraud prevention.
- Personalized Customer Experiences: Xtelify IQ will facilitate secure, real-time, omnichannel engagement, improving service quality and customer satisfaction.
Benefits for Airtel Africa
The partnership is expected to drive sustainable growth, innovation, and operational efficiency. Jacques Barkhuizen, Group Chief Information Officer at Airtel Africa, stated:
“This partnership marks a transformative leap in our mission to build Africa’s digital future. By leveraging Airtel’s proven AI platforms from India, we are simplifying operations and accelerating hyper-personalized experiences for our customers.”
Xtelify will provide its Data Engine, Work, and IQ platforms to Airtel Africa. Data Engine and Work will empower the 150,000-strong field team with micro-targeted insights, while IQ will support secure, real-time customer interactions and advanced fraud protection.
Airtel Cloud: A Sovereign, Telco-Grade Platform
In addition to the Xtelify deployment, Bharti Airtel unveiled Airtel Cloud, a sovereign, telco-grade cloud platform capable of processing 1.4 billion transactions per minute. Hosted on next-generation sustainable data centers and powered by Gen-AI provisioning, Airtel Cloud is managed by 300 certified cloud experts. Key features include:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Scalable and flexible infrastructure for enterprises.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Streamlined application development without infrastructure concerns.
- Advanced Connectivity: Secure migration, effortless scaling, reduced costs, and no vendor lock-ins.
Industry Impact
This AI-driven initiative is poised to transform the telecom industry by simplifying complex operations, enhancing customer protection, and unlocking new revenue streams. Binod Srivastava, Chief Business Officer for Global Business at Bharti Airtel, commented:
“We are thrilled to partner with Airtel Africa. Combining our innovative Xtelify platform with their vision will tackle industry challenges like spam and fraud while driving digital transformation.”
Conclusion
The Airtel Africa–Xtelify partnership represents a significant step in advancing digital transformation and AI adoption in telecom. By combining AI-powered platforms with Airtel Cloud, Airtel Africa is positioned to enhance customer experience, improve efficiency, and set new benchmarks for innovation across its 14 markets.
