TRA fights against spam text messages on mobile phones

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced more proactive measures to control and minimise unwanted promotional text messages (spam SMS) received by mobile phone subscribers in the UAE.

Following recent data showing that the majority of unwanted promotional messages come from international companies located in GCC countries, and acting in coordination with Etisalat and du, the TRA introduced a monitoring device which can identify and block advertising messages coming from outside the UAE.

As for advertising messages originating from the UAE, the TRA enforces a strict auditing process where repeat offenders risk to see their service being temporarily terminated after an initial warning and could be subjected to a fine and permanent cease of service in case of recidivism.

The new measure comes to complement a full set of initiatives already in place. At the end of 2009, the TRA established a regulatory policy that applied to both licensees (Etisalat and Du) and aimed to reduce marketing messages sent to customers without their consent, with a clear focus on mobile SMS. The policy is still binding to both service providers with instructions to take appropriate measures to fight spam and to give consumers the choice of receiving such messages or not.

Following TRA’s regulations, both licensees (Etisalat and Du) currently give their subscribers the choice to opt out of their own promotional messages. At a provider level, Etisalat and Du offer a free service allowing their subscribers to block unwanted promotional SMS coming from short numbers or specific companies . The TRA also acts on complaints from consumers who received marketing messages without their prior consent. 

Majed Al Mesmar, Deputy Director General for the telecommunication sector of the TRA, said: "Since the first regulatory policy of 2009, TRA has been monitoring implementation carefully and evaluating its effect on the volume of unwanted spam messages. During the first quarter of 2013 only, over three million requests have been processed to stop receiving unwanted promotional SMS from local companies and promotional firms. Long-term efforts by Etisalat and Du to filter spam SMS and offer their customers to opt out of receiving some messages blocked around 20 million unwanted promotional SMS from international companies and promotional firms."
 
Khalid Belhoul, TRA Assistant Manager of Wireless Networks Development, said: "TRA conducted 75 audits of Etisalat and du in the first quarter of 2013 to ensure their compliance in limiting unwanted promotional SMS. As a result of these audits, Etisalat and Du warned 32 companies, temporarily disconnected the service of 28 companies, and permanently ceased the service of one company which did not follow TRA policies to limit spam SMS".

 

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