The company, which is based in Grimstad, Norway, has spent the last three years developing an innovational AI based solution to combat fraud.
The solution is called Utel Defence and is described as an advanced AI-powered fraud management system, developed to protect telecom operators and their customers from fraud via the telecommunications network. The solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time analytics to identify, analyse, and handle fraud attempts before they cause significant harm.
“Fraudsters are getting smarter, but so are we. Utel Defense detects fraud patterns, categorizes scams, and enables real-time threat blocking – ensuring a safer network for customers,” says Frode Gorseth, CCO at Utel.
More proactive instead of reactive
Utel Defense lists the features their AI system as follows:
- AI-based detection: The system uses advanced algorithms to detect anomalies in traffic patterns and user behaviour and automatically categorizes types of fraud.
- Real-time processing: All calls are analysed in real time using protocol signalling, providing immediate alerts of suspicious activity.
- Automated fraud management: The system identifies threats early and generates alerts that enable rapid actions to block fraudulent traffic.
- Detailed call analysis: Enables deep dives into traffic data, including detailed analysis of individual calls for full traceability.
What makes their solution stand out?
The entire development of the Utel Defense product was developed entirely in-house. Utel used their own engineers in Norway with no external assistance. The solution is proactive and built to look after human behaviour. When unusual activities are detected, the solution automatically determines which category of fraud is detected.
It is based on systemized “unsupervised learning” which is trained on live data making the end result immediately more proactive than rule-based systems.
“Many of our competition's products are rule-based meaning their technology is designed to look for fraudulent activity after it has already happened. Competitors' systems are trained on model-based systems that when integrated into a company system abroad, would cease to work effectively,” shares Gorseth.
The active status of Utel Defense
In Norway, telecoms companies are focusing on building trust with their customers by offering more security. This is a growing trend internationally. Most recently, the Norwegian company, Ice, a division of Telia Lyse entered into partnership with Utel this year to strengthen their fight against phone fraud.
“Our customers should feel safe when using our mobile network. Fraud methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and that’s why we’re investing in the best tools to combat scammers,” says Erik Haugland, Director of Security at Ice.
"The first step toward international success in fraud prevention is to prove that our technology works here at home. Norway is at the forefront in this area, and we’re pleased that a company like Ice is adopting our solution to combat an increasingly serious challenge," says Monica Vaksdal, CEO of Utel.
At the time of writing, Utel is running tests of their defence model with telecoms companies, Telia Sur in South America, Virgin Media in Ireland and soon with interested parties in Luxemburg and Japan.
The company’s anti-fraud solution is not just for telecoms. They have positioned themselves and designed their product to become a necessity in other industries including Insurance, banking/finance and healthcare.
About Utel:
Utel is based in Grimstad, Norway and was originally a breakaway from the tech environment at Telenor. Since 2021, Utel has been owned by Alytic, which is owned by the energy- and technology-focused investment company Arendals Fossekompani.