The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has issued a final warning to telecommunication operators who still send unsolicited text messages (SMS) to its customers.
NCC had mandated telecommunication operators in the country to activate their Do-Not-Disturb facility, which gives subscribers the freedom to choose the messages they receive, the commission still receives complains by subscribers of continuing text harassment by operators. The direction issued to industry operators to activate the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb short code took effect from July 1, 2016, but has largely been ignored.
The 2442 Do-Not-Disturb short code let subscribers select from range of services, which information via text messages they receive, these include: banking/insurance/financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods and automobiles, communication/ broadcasting/entertainment/ it, tourism and /leisure, sports, religion (Christianity, Islam, others), or none at all.
Below 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.
NCC is taking complains from subscribers seriously and said there will be sanctions if the Do-Not-Disturb code is not activated and taken seriously.
