Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to address complaints of subscribers who have been inundated with unsolicited telemarketing, short message service (SMS) and voice calls by mobile network operators with a warning that it shall fine any operator found culpable with a fine N5 million and N500,000 daily as long as the contravention persists.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that the Commission in a ‘New Direction,’ issued to 13 mobile operators by the legal and regulatory department of NCC, plans to sanction any network that refuses to implement it on or before June 30, 2016, the shortcode of 2442 for subscribers to opt-in to the “Do Not Disturb” (DND) database restricting unsolicited marketing messages.
NCC in a letter dated April 19, 2016 warned MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Etisalat, Smile, Natcoms (Ntel), Visafone, Starcomms, Multilinks, Gamjitel, Danjay Telecoms, Gicell Wireless Ltd and Megatech Engineering Ltd that they should implement the DND restricting telemarketing their MSISDNs including the use of web-based solutions as opt-out measures.
The regulator said it shall be mandatory for mobile operators to create sufficient awareness to its subscribers on the existence of the DND on their networks; that they shall also comply with the quarterly and reporting template prescribed by the NCC to ensure feedback and compliance.
NCC warned operators that generated SMS shall comply with the 8am to 8pm stipulation (12 hour period) for sending SMS to subscribers and that the opt-in process shall be free. It said operated generated SMS is excluded from the DND list in as much as such messages are in conformity with NCC’s directive on timing and regularity and do not constitute a nuisance to subscribers and the subscribers shall have right to partial or full DND implementation.
NCC said the ‘New Direction’ issued pursuant to Section 53 of the Nigerian Communications Act follows the inundation of complaints by subscribers to its office about menace of unsolicited text messages and voice calls from mobile operators which have impacted negatively on consumer quality service in the telecom industry.
NCC said it was aware through its monitoring activities that some operators have set up DND facility on their network but the awareness by subscribers of the facility is very minimal and unsatisfactory. The menace of unsolicited texts and calls led NCC a fortnight ago to regulate the Value Added Services (VAS) market with the issuance of draft regulation.
Meanwhile, Wireless Application Service Providers of Nigeria Ltd (WASPAN) said every month all operators shall broadcast how to get on the DND portal to their subscribers. At the end of each quarter, subscribers will be required to renew their DND status by sending ‘STOP’ to short codes on the network.
http://leadership.ng/news/524648/mtn-12-telcos-face-n5m-fine-unsolicited-sms-calls

This is a good step in the right direction. Mtn almost killed my battery today with unsolicited calls. In the middle of an engagement i would scamper for my phone only to see 55225.

good

Bad market for MTN this year.


Wait, have they paid the previous fine?

Good news

at last

and their T&C be reviewed cuz I'm wondering why no one has sued them yet

airtel should be number one

#votelanicky
#missnairaland2016

Glo usually calls me with hidden number

calling me when am expecting an important call...that's so not right

Glo is worse when it comes to unsolicited calls. It can be very annoying when you are expecting an important call and you get one only to find out it is an automated machine asking you to press 1. Ah!!!

Okay

this mtn sha, them no dey hear word until they are fined, their unsolicited sms is worst

Very good move I say...

Pls they should be fast about it before MTN and AIRTEL drives me crazy...

Mtchew.
Emptyhen
Was expecting an important call yesterday, so the phone rang I have to rush out of the church just not knowing it was from EMPTYHEN.
I feel like destroying the sim at dat movement

Dat 5007 Mtn msg dat always enters any tym am expecting ALERT and d airtel customer care number dat calls anytym I am expecting ma Ex to call somtyms Wana make me pray I c d both network president face 2face with hammer on ma hand.

propaganda jor. YES they should be fined. but if I may ask please, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE THEN MTN 1TRILLION FINE?

ThankGOd!!!! Now, I'll know that any message that enters my phone will be that of a Job interview or family and friends, not like when I'll always in a hurry pick my phone to see a text from 4100 or 5255 saying to download this caller tune for 50 naira. 50 what!!! When I've not finish loading call card to call..... Good radiance!!!

Long overdue. Fine dem all

To who?ncc?it should have been return to customer.

Most annoying part of it is the SMS,especially when you are expecting alert for a order.
Well,my respond is always that ,there investment go catch fire ooo.

ok

hmm

charlesucheh:
ThankGOd!!!! Now, I'll know that any message that enters my phone will be that of a Job interview or family and friends, not like when I'll always in a hurry pick my phone to see a text from 4100 or 5255 saying to download this caller tune for 50 naira. 50 what!!! When I've not finish loading call card to call..... Good radiance!!!

Wat!!!!

PoundedYam:
Bad market for MTN this year.


Wait, have they paid the previous fine?

who dey fine epp

Thank God for this new development. I just pray they'll follow it.

imagine airtel sending me 50 messages in less than 15 seconds

free2ryhme:

who dey fine epp

4get that thing jor

Sometimes i wonder if these operators are animals.Does it not occur to them that these unsolicited calls and sms messages are nuisance to subscibers? Th

charlesucheh:
ThankGOd!!!! Now, I'll know that any message that enters my phone will be that of a Job interview or family and friends, not like when I'll always in a hurry pick my phone to see a text from 4100 or 5255 saying to download this caller tune for 50 naira. 50 what!!! When I've not finish loading call card to call..... Good radiance!!!

Could be GNLD you know...