The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given a deadline of June 30, 2016 to telecommunication networks in the country to stop sending unsolicited Short Message Service (SMS) or calls to subscribers or face sanctions.
This was contained in a letter by the NCC, from the Legal and Regulatory Department, specifically directed to 13 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) including MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat.
The commission said it had been inundated with complaints from subscribers about the menace of unsolicited text messages and calls from MNOs, which had impacted negatively on consumer quality experience in the telecommunications industry.
“The commission in line with its regulatory functions of protecting the interest of consumers as provided in sections 4(1) (b) and 105(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA 2003), and ensuring the development of the Nigerian Communications Industry, is of the opinion that degradation of consumer quality experience through unsolicited telemarketing, should be curtailed,” the letter read.
The letter added that the telecom firms risk N5 million fine if they failed to comply with the directive as at June 30, and further N500, 000 per day for as long as the contravention persists.
NCC declared that licensees, who provide telecoms services to subscribers, are mandated by the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007 to conduct telemarketing in accordance with any call or ‘Do Not Disturb’ preferences recorded by the consumer at the time of entering into a contract for services or after.
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