With rising public annoyance over the flood of advertisement messages, the ICT Ministry on Monday sent an ultimate to all communication companies asking them to halt services to ad senders.
ICT Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi took to Twitter to say if communication service providers fail to fall in line their working licenses will be revoked.
The stern warning came after Jahromi and his men met with President Hassan Rouhani on Monday. During the meeting, Rouhani called on his top ICT aide to use the full force of the law against ad senders.
“Stop [these firms] from annoying the people and wasting their time,” he instructed the minister.
"Pushing ads when mobile subscribers cannot opt out of such messages is illegal. The ad companies must be stopped immediately," Rouhani said, president.ir reported.
Hours after the meeting Jahromi gave all communication service providers an ultimatum to either stop registering mobile phone numbers for ad sending companies, or lose their license.
Jahromi says, “A mechanism can be devised through which users can agree to accept ad messages,” in return for receiving discounts on communication services.
The cost of mass advertisement through text messaging is still very low compared to other means of commercial promotion, he noted.
"There are not enough ways for the fledgling companies to introduce their goods and services. Work is going on to help small enterprises with low-cost alternatives based on digital marketing."
Past Efforts
The unwanted and unhelpful ads have always been an annoyance for cellphone users in Iran. To reduce the burden the Communications Regulatory Authority introduced the automated system ‘195’ last November to help subscribers get rid of the irritating ads.
Through the system, people can file complaints against the ad senders 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 ads—which many consider as spam.
Although according to the CRA, after the automated system was launched through Jan 22, over 70,400 advertising phone numbers have been blocked, the ombudsman's director, Hossein Fallah said earlier.
"The fight against ad senders is far from over as there always are new companies involved in text message ad business."
Rouhani Highlights ICT Role
President Hassan Rouhani met with ICT Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi and his aides on Monday highlighting the role and significance of information and communication technologies in national development.
In the meeting at the ICT Ministry premises in Tehran, Rouhani said, “Information and communication technologies can provide us efficient tools for promoting transparency and fighting corruption and rent-seeking,” president.ir reported.
“The advantages of employing modern technologies are far too many even though there are some downsides.”
The president added, “We cannot bar the people from using ICT. Obstructing the people’s access to information and communication technologies is neither legal nor religiously permissible.”
