Operators to establish SOP, DNCR and black lists to control spam: PTA

The draft is a revision of Protection from Spam, Unsolicited Fraudulent and Obnoxious Communication Regulations, 2009.

In an attempt to curb spamming and unsolicited and fraudulent communications, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a revised regulation draft requiring  all operators to establish standard operating procedures (SOP), Do Not Call Registers (DNCR) and black lists.  

The draft, a revision of the Protection from Spam, Unsolicited Fraudulent and Obnoxious Communication Regulations, 2009, stated that all operators will be required to establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for controlling spam and upgrading them if and when asked by PTA to ensure that SOPs were synced and updated between all operators at any given time.

As per the draft, all operators will be required to maintain grey and black lists of subscribers and those found repeatedly indulging in fraudulent communication will be placed on the black list.

Regulation for marketing communications will require all business to use short-codes to market their business. Operators will be required to establish a Do Not Call Register (DNCR) to manage all those customers who do not wish to receive marketing calls.

Telemarketing companies will have to sign a service level agreement with operators which will include a procedure for a system for blocking calls to those who on the DNCR list.

Diligence in handling complaints was also emphasized in the regulation for all mobile operators.

Before upgrading its regulations policy concerning spam, unwanted calls and text messages, PTA issued the revised draft to its stakeholders for their input.

Earlier, it was announced that cellular mobile operators would suspend services of mobile users who were sending spam SMS messages for commercial purposes.