Enforcement of 2442 DO NOT DISTURB Short Code commences says NCC

ITRealms:

Apex telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission has commenced the implementation of the ‘2442 Do Not Disturb’ short code, reports ITRealms.

Disclosing this, Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo, said that this follows a direction to the telecommunications service providers in the country, the operators, to commence from July 1, 2016, activate the DO NOT DISTURB facility which gives subscribers the freedom to choose what messages to receive from the various networks, if any.

He said that with this direction the operators have been mandated to dedicate a common Short Code (2442) which will enable subscribers take informed decisions, stressing that this action was taken in order to protect subscribers from the nuisance of unsolicited texts, and therefore a direct regulatory response to the yearnings of the subscribers.

By this action, he explained, the Commission has invoked a regulatory provision which had hitherto been overlooked by the operators. 

NCC, he also said, took cognizance of the broad range of services which cut across “Banking/Insurance/ Financial Products, Real Estate, Education, Health, Consumer Goods and Automobiles, Communication/ Broadcasting/ Entertainment/ IT, Tourism and leisure, Sports, Religion (Christianity, Islam, others),” hence, the Commission directed the operators to give the necessary instructions and clarifications that will enable subscribers subscribe to a particular service/services /none at all.

Ojobo further said that for a full DND which is SMS “STOP” to 2442 does not allow the subscriber to receive any unsolicited message from the operators at all.

Below, he said, are the various options: 
“SMS 1” for receiving SMS relating to Banking? Insurance/ Financial products to 2442
“SMS 2” for receiving |SMS relating to real Estate to 2442
“SMS 3” for receiving SMS relating to Education to 2442
“SMS 4” for receiving SMS relating to Health to 2442
“SMS 5” for receiving SMS relating to Consumer goods and Automobiles to 2442”
“SMS 6” for receiving SMS relating to Communication/ Broadcasting Entertainment/IT to 2442
“SMS 7” for receiving SMS relating to Tourism and leisure to 2442
“SMS 8” for receiving SMS relating to Sports to 2442
“SMS 9” for receiving SMS relating to Religion to 2442

Ojobo pointed out however that the decision of the Commission does not affect personal messages or person to person messages which are private communication by individuals.

He enjoined the operators to comply immediately with the direction issued by the Commission and never again harass subscribers with unwanted messages.

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ALTON, NCC implements 'Don't disturb' list to check unsolicited SMS,fraud

ITRealms:

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in line with concerns of the telecom public through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the implementation of  'Do not disturb' list to afford subscribers to opt out of unsolicited Short Messaging Service (SMS) and check fraud, ITRealms reports.

Confirming this, ALTON chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said Wednesday at a one day stakeholders forum in Lagos in response to the draft Value Added Services a Framework by NCC, to find a lasting solution to addressing the menace of unsolicited text messages that flood customers’ phones.

"We have implemented “Do not Disturb” Lists" he declared, explaining that it would enable customers who do not wish to receive marketing messages to opt-in to, free of charge, stressing that they are working with the NCC on the best means of publicizing this.

ALTON he also said is working with the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigerian (WASPAN) and have developed a comprehensive Code of Conduct to govern VAS practices. 

"This 24-page document addresses several diverse issues," which he said, including unsolicited SMS, prevent “service users” from using short codes to perpetuate fraud, anti-competitive activities, among others.

Adebayo further said, a draft of this document has been submitted to NCC and is now being finalized with WASPAN. 

"Once finalized, it would be given the widest possible publicity so that customers can know their rights and seek redress as may be necessary" he assured.

ALTON, ITRealms recalls, is the umbrella association for all providers of telecom service in Nigeria, comprising of all providers of Mobile telephone services, fixed network services, backbone services, Infrastructure providers and all support service companies for the telecom operators.

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