- Today's CRTC decision brings Bell a step closer to launching
technology trial
- New system can shut down an estimated 120 million more scam
calls per month
MONTRÉAL, Jan. 17, 2020 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell has developed network technology based on
Artificial Intelligence (AI) that could block approximately 120
million more fraudulent telephone calls per month than Bell is able
to stop using call-blocking methods currently mandated by the
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC).
"Canadians rely on their phones to stay connected with family,
friends, customers and colleagues, and customers at all carriers
are justifiably frustrated by the volume of fraud calls they
continue to receive," said Rizwan
Jamal, President of Bell Residential and Small Business.
"Our industry has made solid progress in combatting these scam
calls, and Bell's innovative new AI process would further
dramatically reduce the number that get through to customers. We're
ready to take the next step, and while we welcome today's decision
by the CRTC to move the process forward, we eagerly await its
approval to launch our trial."
Bell's trial application builds on the CRTC's Compliance and
Enforcement and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2018-484:
Implementation of universal network-level blocking of calls with
blatantly illegitimate caller identification. As part of the
process, the CRTC mandated that Canadian telephone providers
implement call-blocking technology by December 17, 2019.
Bell is now preventing approximately 220 million such calls from
reaching customers each month using universal network-level call
blocking; other Canadian carriers are also blocking tens of
millions of scam calls monthly. However, the CRTC acknowledged that
current call-blocking approaches are only part of the solution and
encouraged carriers to continue working on further remedies.
Based on the latest AI and machine learning technologies, Bell's
enhanced call-block system uses defined sets of typical call
characteristics and proprietary algorithms to analyse and identify
scam calls, even as fraudsters attempt to employ techniques to
defeat the system.
The proposed solution is consistent with CRTC policy as only
verifiably fraudulent calls would be blocked. Before any blocking,
a secondary process validates the fraudulent nature of the calls,
including cross-referencing the system's determinations with the
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), the central agency that
collects information and criminal intelligence on matters such as
mass marketing fraud, Internet fraud and identification theft
complaints.
About Bell
Bell is Canada's largest communications
company, providing advanced broadband wireless, TV, Internet and
business communication services throughout the country. Bell Media
is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in
television, radio, out of home and digital media. Founded in
Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. To learn more,
please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day, taking place on January 29,
and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research
and workplace leadership initiatives throughout the country. To
learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Jacqueline Michelis
613-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Investor inquiries:
Thane Fotopoulos
514-870-4619
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada