NTC raps cellcos’ knuckles over SMS spamming

The Filipino telecoms watchdog, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), has outlawed the practice of mobile operators or content providers (CPs) offering free promotions via SMS texting. It also reprimanded network operators Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, along with domestic CPs Information Gateway, Paysetter International and Entertainment Gateway Group for violating a memorandum against spamming. The NTC said the country’s telecoms laws define spam as ‘unsolicited or unwanted commercial and promotional advertisements and surveys’ sent more than once for the same promo. Globe and its CPs were ordered to pay compensation of PHP12,200 (USD252) to one complainant for sending 61 spam texts, while Smart and Entertainment Gateway Group were ordered to pay PHP20,800 for a similar transgression.