Telcos Risk Sanctions over Unsolicited Calls, SMSes

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday warned telecoms operators to desist from sending subscribers unsolicited text messages or risk severe sanctions, saying they have June 30, 2016 as deadline for total compliance.

Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of NCC, who gave the warning at the 77th Edition of Telecoms Consumer Parliament in Abuja, said following the general complaints of subscribers over unsolicited text messages, that the Commission issued a directive to telecoms operators to dedicate a short code 2442, on their networks for use by subscribers to opt-in to “Do- NOT-DISTURB” database to register their numbers against unsolicited text messages.

Danbatta warned that non-compliance to this directive by the operators would attract sanctions.

It would be recalled that on March 8,2016, Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, held a meeting with Chief Executive Officers of telecoms operators in his office in Abuja where he sounded a note of warning to them to desist from sending unsolicited text messages through their networks, or face sanctions.

Shittu also told them to stop from under-declaring their revenue and profit, as this criminal act short-changes the government in its revenue generation.

He said his office has been inundated with complaints, petitions and calls on the fraudulent and un-authorised charges by telecoms operators in the country.

Shittu warned that their fraudulent activities against subscribers must stop forthwith or “severe sanctions will be imposed on any operators that violate the directive.”

According to him, “Many Nigerians have been complaining of un-authorised charges or deduction for unsubscribed /unsolicited messages by all telecoms operators.

“Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) will properly monitor telecoms operators and prevent them from dubious charges for services not rendered and provides regular updates on monthly basis.

“Any operator found wanting going forward will be severely sanctioned.
“It has also come to my notice that the telecom operators do not fully declare to the government their total annual gross revenue, thereby short-changing the government in under-paid taxes and levies.
“The Federal Government will take advantage of new technologies to verify the amount of revenue generated by the telecom operators via government regulatory and revenue agencies like NCC, FIRS, among others.”

The minister who enumerated other infractions such as extortion of subscribers, incessant dropped calls on all networks, dead or silent calls, deficiency in data penetration, as some of the areas the telecoms operators have been short-changing Nigerians over the years.

However, Independent has observed that these infractions and other fraudulent activities perpetrated by telecom operators in Nigeria have continued unabated.

Many analysts have called on NCC, as the telecoms regulator to wake up to its statutory responsibilities, which over the years, it has failed to perform.

Commenting on the rational for Telecom Consumer Parliament [TCP], the NCC boss said it was borne out of the need for telecom industry players meet and exchange ideas on salient issues affecting consumers of telecom services in the country.

He said the issues raised in the TCP, have continued to shape the regulatory policies of the Commission and have led to the enactment of several regulations that benefited consumers and enriched the industry.