Unsolicited text messages and the NCC

Posted by Felix Okoli on Thursday November 28, 2013 at 8:59:44:

I think GSM subscribers have a right to avoid having to receive unsolicited text messages from services they haven't subscribed to.

Nowadays in Nigeria, there is a growing number of unsolicited marketing text messages being sent to gsm phones and this is basically making life uneasy for subscribers who are mostly prepaid. You don't have to force someone to keep deleting or even reading text messages, even in the name of marketing when he hasn't subscribed to it.

I received an sms today and it asked me, "Are you are Red Devil?". Well, I'm not a red devil or Man U supporter even though I love watching soccer but why do I even have to receive this text from 5836?

I think if the NCC is doing it's work properly, they'll save people from this unwarranted text messages that keeps disturbing one's piece.

I think it's ok if someone receives sms from places or numbers they've already subscribed to say from church, school, bank, work or other service.

I think there should be a rule for GSM companies that would force them to at least allow subscribers to choose whether to opt out of unsolicited text messages or not. People should be able to choose if they want to remain open to sms marketing or not as that's part of what offering a good service requires.

Unsolicited text messages is not something a lot of Nigerians would want to keep receiving and if they could unsubscribe to it, they certainly would. MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat should allow GSM subscribes to choose if they want to opt out of unsolicited sms marketing or not.