EE has been hit with a major fine after bombarding users with millions of unwanted texts.
The Information Commissioner Office (ICO) has hit the operator with a £100,000 fine after it was found to have sent 2.5 million messages during 2018.
The texts attempted to push EE customers to use the operator's own app, as well as urging them to update their handsets.
EE claimed that the messages were "service messages" rather than spam, however the ICO ruled that as they contained promotional material, they were subject to electronic marketing rules.
- EE will launch the UK's first 5G network on May 30
- The best EE phone deals in June 2019
- Uber fined £385,000 following UK data breach
EE fine
"These were marketing messages which promoted the company's products and services," said Andy White, director of investigations at the ICO.
"The direct marketing guidance is clear: if a message that contains customer service information also includes promotional material to buy extra products for services, it is no longer a service message and electronic marketing rules apply."
Punishment for not complying with such rules can be up to £500,000, meaning EE only incurred a fraction of the possible costs.
In a statement, EE said it accepted the ICO's findings, and would look at improving its outreach processes in the future.
"We're committed to ensuring our customers are fully aware of their options throughout the life of their contract, and we apologise to the customers who received these messages," the company said.
- The best mobile phone deals of June 2019
