System and method for blocking the use of a service in a telecommunication system

A method of controlling subscriber use of a short message service in a telecommunication system, comprising the steps of:

• routing a short message sent from an originating subscriber terminal device to a destination number of an intended recipient of the short message for further transmission of the short message from the short message service center to he destination number;
• checking, prior to further transmission of the short message from the short message service center to the destination number, whether the destination number is among a predetermined numerical space;
• and
• if the destination number is determined to be among the predetermined numerical space;
• checking in a database whether the originating subscriber is permitted to send the short message to the destination number and, if it is determined that the subscriber is not permitted to send the short message to the destination number,
• blocking further transmission of the short message from the short message service center to the destination number;
• and
• notifying the originating subscriber that transmission of the short message to the destination number has been blocked.

A system for controlling subscriber use of a short message service in a telecommunication system, comprising:

• a telecommunication network;
• an originating subscriber terminal device that connects the originating subscriber to the telecommunication network;
• a mobile services switching center connected to the telecommunication network;
• a gateway connected to the telecommunication network and operable for transmission of network traffic;
• a short message service center connected to the telecommunication network and to which a short message sent from the originating subscriber terminal device to an intended recipient destination number is routed for further transmission of the short message from the short message service center to the destination number;
• a database connected to the gateway for storing subscriber information;
• a checking block operable for determining, based on a first checking condition, whether the destination number of the short message is among a predetermined numerical space;
• and
• a database block operable for determining, by consulting blocking definitions stored in the database, whether the originating subscriber is permitted to send the short message to the destination number.