Bharti Airtel says Google routes RCS traffic through its spam filters

TL;DR:

• Bharti Airtel said Google now routes all RCS traffic through Airtel spam filters.
• Rahul Vatts said the partnership is intended to protect Airtel subscribers on mobile networks and OTT messaging.
• The statement positions OTT collaboration as part of Airtel’s anti-spam strategy in India.

Bharti Airtel said Rahul Vatts disclosed that Google now routes all Rich Communication Services (RCS) traffic through Airtel’s spam filters, according to comments reported on April 11, 2025. He said Airtel uses the signals it generates to screen RCS messages and that the arrangement is intended to protect Airtel subscribers on its mobile networks and on over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms.

Rahul Vatts said, “all the RCS traffic now flows to the Airtel spam filters” and that Google passes RCS messages through those filters. The source did not provide technical implementation details, message volumes, launch dates for the integration, or any country beyond India. The source also did not specify whether the filtering applies to all Google Messages users or specifically to Airtel subscribers.

The comments show Bharti Airtel extending anti-spam controls beyond traditional telecom traffic into OTT messaging channels. RCS is a messaging standard used by mobile operators and internet platforms as an upgrade to SMS, and Google is a major RCS platform provider through Google Messages. The reported partnership reflects how operators and platform companies are working together on spam detection as messaging shifts from SMS to app-based and IP-based channels.

Related Questions

Does Bharti Airtel filter RCS spam messages?

Yes. Airtel said Google now routes all RCS traffic through Airtel’s spam filters, according to Rahul Vatts.

Does Google work with Bharti Airtel on spam control?

Yes. Airtel said Google passes RCS messages through Airtel spam filters as part of their anti-spam collaboration.

Is this Bharti Airtel spam partnership limited to mobile networks?

No. Airtel said the partnership is meant to help protect subscribers on its mobile networks and on OTT messaging platforms.