20,000+ Annoying Mobile Ad Senders Suspended

EghtesadOnline: As part of a move to curb unwanted and annoying text message ads, Iran’s Communications Regulatory Authority has blocked 21,733 mobile phone numbers since November 2017, when an automated monitoring system was launched.

News ID: ۷۸۴۲۴۲

22 October 2018

Through the system, people can file complaints with the CRA against the ad sender by sending their phone number to the communications ombudsman via text message. People can simply send the ad senders’ number to 195. The regulator receives the complaints and blocks the number after issuing warnings if the advertising company continues sending the crap that many consider as spam.

CRA Director Hossein Fallah says the cost of mass advertisement through text messages is significantly low. The ombudsman is planning to curb the number of such adverts by cracking down on firms indulging in the method which for long has become a nuisance, ICTNA reported.

He called on the people to assist CRA in its’ endeavors to curb text ads by submitting the ad senders’ number to the system, according to Financial Tribune.

Fallah also censured mobile operators for sending text ads saying, “Operators are prohibited from sending ad messages to subscribers. They can only send bill alert notifications."

The unwanted ads have always been an annoyance for cell phone users. To curb the pain, the CRA introduced the automated system ‘195’ to help subscribers get rid of the advertisement messages.

The authority blocked close to 3,000 numbers in the first week after the system was launched.