Zambia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is set to begin talks to stop network operators sending promotional messages to customers.
The move by the CCPC appears to follow the one made by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in November last year when it banned promotions and lotteries because of poor network quality.
Hanford Chaaba, the CCPC’s public relations officer, said they wanted operators to gain the permission of their customers before sending out messages and were in the process of approaching the Zambia Information and Communications Technology (ZICTA).
Chaaba said: “As a commission we are not happy with the way Airtel, MTN and Zamtel are sending messages to the consumers. It is not good for them as they have the right to choose what they want to receive or listen to on their phones.
“So I would like to urge the three mobile service providers to find a way in which they can get permission from the consumers before they can send the messages or calls.”
Chaaba added there had been complaints from the public concerning the practice.
