Sabafon
Interesting in the context of complete regime control of broadcast media:
SANA’A, Aug 20 — Timed with the approach of the Yemeni presidential and local elections’ fever the Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry warns about the exploitation of text messages during the campaigning.
The ministry says any mobile phone company found issuing partisan messages under any pretext will lose their operating license, according to a report by Yemeni Army’s publication, 26 September.
The same source, which is close to presidency house, mentioned a warning letter sent to the three mobile companies, Sabafon, Spacetel and Yemen Mobile, indicating the ministry will take legal procedures in case these companies violate their operating agreements.
“TIGM will not hesitate to withdraw the operation license from any company which does not abide to the agreement,” according to 26 September.
The focus in the past has been on Sabafon, according to informed sources, claiming complaints from citizens asking it to protect them from blackmailing messages they received asking for contributions for people in Lebanon and Palestine or support cancer-afflicted patients.
The paper added that these people asked the ministry to stop Sabafon from these practices, saying that donations do not reach their goals and they are made for partisan ends.
Sabafon is owned by by Hamid Al-Ahmer, an opposition leader, in supporting Bin Shamlan’s campaign.
They have over 1 million subscribers and some feel the ministry is acting on the the government’s fear of the potential of Al-Ahmer to send persuasive messages to his subscribers.
