Mobilink Apparently Blocked Branded SMS from Other Networks

[siddiki]

It has been reported by SMS VAS providers (operators, gateways,
aggregators) that Mobilink is blocking branded SMS/corporate SMS
alerts from other networks to its subscribers. On contact, they were
asked to initiate that traffic from mobilink's own SMSC. It appears to
be linked with the recent campaign from Mobilink and Telenor to impose
interconnect fee of 10 paisa on SMS termination (http://
propakistani.pk/2010/01/15/off-net-calls-and-sms-rates-high/).

Cleverly, they didn't block it on P2P SMS since it may backfire to
their prepaid subscriber base, rather they have started this on
corporate SMS services which may bring some customers or at least
traffic to them. Operators don't have an immediate solution but have
logged a complain at PTA. Gateways and aggregators are routing 030
traffic by initiating it on Mobilink SMSC. The ported numbers are
suffering again specially the numbers ported into mobilink as their
prefix takes them to some other SMSC and when routed to mobilink, it
blocks since it was initiated from someone else.

Shahid Siddiqui
Manager Business Mobility Team
Sidat Hyder

[aamir attaa]

just to add: http://propakistani.pk/2010/05/04/filteration-of-spam-sms-is-being-implemented-by-celcos/

Regards,
Aamir Attaa

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[siddiki]

Yes but SPAM filtering is different. Here it's legitimate traffic from
well known senders. if it was SPAM, no need to tell them to initiate
from Mobilink SMSC.

Shahid

On May 28, 4:17 pm, aamir attaa <aam...@gmail.com> wrote:
> just to add:http://propakistani.pk/2010/05/04/filteration-of-spam-sms-is-being-im...
>
> Regards,
> Aamir Attaa

[siddiki]

Here is a relevant article on this:

Mobile Companies Want an End to SMS Packages
http://propakistani.pk/2010/04/08/breaking-2-mobile-companies-want-an-end-to-sms-packages/

Shahid

On May 28, 4:17 pm, aamir attaa <aam...@gmail.com> wrote:
> just to add:http://propakistani.pk/2010/05/04/filteration-of-spam-sms-is-being-im...
>

> Regards,
> Aamir Attaa

[Rafaeel Akbar Chaudhry [رافعیل اکبر چودھری]‎]

Shahid Bhai, Mobilink initiated the thread of blocking around 8-9 months back but at that moment nobody took it seriously. Apparently Telenor was trying to hit their postpaid and corporate market so they retaliated by blocking MASKED messages from Telenor to its clients.  Later, i think they blocked Zong from doing the same practice. Now i have heard the issue is being escalated to PTA. However Mobilink didn't do anything out of their agreement. Those who have access to the current interconnect agreement say that Masked Messages are not permitted as per the document.

You are right. Mobilink Traffic is being routed the same way by the VAS Providers. However, those who have ported to other networks from mobilink are unable to receive messages via this method.


Regards,
Rafaeel Akbar