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Maxis has officially bolstered its defences against scam calls and SMS by rolling out a new AI-powered network firewall
According to Maxis, the system began operating in January 2026, screening international traffic before it reaches users.
The end-to-end service uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide 24/7 monitoring and continuous traffic analysis.
By sniffing out threats in real time, the telco neutralises them instantly to ensure unwanted messages are intercepted before they reach a device.
The enhanced AI-firewall protection is enabled for all Maxis customers at no additional cost
Whether on a postpaid or prepaid plan, the network performs the heavy lifting for users at no extra cost.
The firewall targets annoyances like international scams disguised as local traffic and SMS from unofficial channels.
It also protects users from sophisticated attacks where scammers use fake sender IDs to mimic legitimate companies.
The system makes it significantly harder for scammers to engage in "spoofing", the practice of masking actual numbers and identities to trick victims into picking up what looks like an official call
"As fraud tactics become increasingly complex, ensuring security must be a continuous effort," said Maxis chief network officer Yap Chee Sun.
Yap added that the AI-powered firewall allows the company to better address evolving risks and reinforces its commitment to a secure network.
Maxis revealed that it intercepted over 500 million fraudulent attempts in 2025 alone
These included messages packed with malicious URLs and scam-related keywords that could have led to devastating financial losses for unsuspecting users.
Beyond the AI tech, Maxis has also implemented inter-operator spoofing checks with four other mobile network operators (MNOs).
Since late January, caller numbers are validated directly with the respective telcos to catch masked numbers in the act.
While the telco continues to work with national enforcement agencies, these shields only cover traditional mobile networks. They do not extend to Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram, so users still need to remain cautious.
