NCC names three illegal coys behind unsolicited SMS

The regulator in the review of its second quarter 2013 enforcement exercise posted on its website identified Upstream Ltd, Next Generation Tele Solutions and One Communications Ltd as operating illegally without necessary regulatory authorisation.The commission however said warning letters had been sent to all VAS providers directing that all unsolicited messages or telemarketing activities within […]

The regulator in the review of its second quarter 2013 enforcement exercise posted on its website identified Upstream Ltd, Next Generation Tele Solutions and One Communications Ltd as operating illegally without necessary regulatory authorisation.
The commission however said warning letters had been sent to all VAS providers directing that all unsolicited messages or telemarketing activities within the networks should be done between 8am – 8pm in line with the existing guidelines.
This, according to NCC, is necessary to ensure good consumer quality experience in the industry and a way of addressing consumers’ complaints regarding unsolicited SMS from VAS providers’ marketing their various services within the Nigerian telecoms space.
The commission said it had developed a database of all VAS providers together with the Short-Codes used by them as a strategy to ensure direct engagement and monitoring of the activities of each licensed VAS providers.
Currently,  MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd; Globacom Nigeria Ltd, Upstream Ltd, Adnol Multimedia Ltd, Fun Mobile, Terragon Ltd, Rancard Mobility, Mtech Ltd, Elseji, Starfish Ltd, Next Generation Tele Solutions, One Communications Ltd, Cloud and Mobilexcetera were identified as major authorised VAS providers responsible for sending some of these unsolicited messages.
The commission has however commenced enforcement process on these three identified illegal VAS operators in line with Section 31 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 and the Enforcement Processes Regulations 2005.