Comoros SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Comoros SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: The Comoros telecommunications market is regulated by the National Regulation Authority of Information and Communications Technology (ANRTIC). Mobile penetration continues to grow, with SMS remaining a crucial communication channel. The market has limited competition among mobile operators, with basic SMS infrastructure in place but some feature limitations compared to more developed markets.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Comoros

Comoros supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features like two-way messaging and concatenation.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Comoros according to current carrier capabilities. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communication flows.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Concatenated messaging is not supported in Comoros.
Message length rules: Standard 160 characters per message using GSM-7 encoding.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding are supported, with UCS-2 limited to 70 characters per message.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This ensures message delivery while providing a way to share rich media content through linked resources.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Comoros. This means phone numbers remain tied to their original carrier, simplifying message routing but limiting consumer flexibility.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Comoros. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and an error response (400 error code 21614 for Twilio API), with no charges applied to the sender's account.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Comoros

The National Regulation Authority of Information and Communications Technology (ANRTIC) oversees telecommunications regulations in Comoros. While specific SMS marketing laws are still evolving, businesses must follow general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending marketing messages
• Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
• Include your business name and purpose in initial consent requests
• Provide clear terms and conditions regarding message frequency and content

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard opt-out keywords (STOP, CANCEL, END)
• HELP/INFO commands should provide customer support information
• Support both French and Arabic keywords due to local language preferences
• Implement immediate processing of opt-out requests

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

Comoros does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:

• Maintain their own suppression lists of opted-out numbers
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove invalid numbers
• Document all opt-out requests for compliance purposes

Time Zone Sensitivity

Comoros follows East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) Recommended Sending Windows:

• Business Days: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time
• Weekends: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time
• Avoid sending during religious holidays and Friday prayer times

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Comoros

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Supported
Registration requirements: Pre-registration not required
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved and displayed as sent

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes: Supported by operators but not available through major providers
• International long codes: Fully supported and recommended for business messaging

Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved
Provisioning time: 1-2 business days for international long codes
Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages, alerts, and customer support

Short Codes

Support: Not currently supported in Comoros
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Prohibited Content:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or explicit material
• Unauthorized financial services
• Political campaign messages without proper authorization
• Religious content without appropriate permissions

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Filters:

• URLs from unknown domains may be blocked
• Messages containing certain keywords in French or Arabic
• Multiple exclamation marks or all-caps messages

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use approved URL shorteners
• Avoid excessive punctuation
• Maintain consistent sender IDs
• Keep content professional and clear

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Comoros

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-actions
• Use personalization tokens thoughtfully
• Maintain consistent branding across messages

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per month per recipient
• Space out messages to avoid overwhelming recipients
• Consider Ramadan and other religious observances
• Respect local business hours and weekends

Localization

• Primary languages: Arabic, French, and Comorian
• Consider bilingual messages (French/Arabic) for wider reach
• Use local date and time formats
• Respect cultural sensitivities in content

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Maintain centralized opt-out database
• Include opt-out instructions in marketing messages
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test messages across all major local carriers
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular testing of opt-out functionality

SMS API integrations for Comoros

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API with comprehensive support for Comoros. Integration requires an account SID and auth token for authentication.

import { Twilio } from 'twilio';

// Initialize client with your credentials
const client = new Twilio(
  process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,
  process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
);

async function sendSMSToComoros() {
  try {
    // Send message with proper Comoros formatting (+269)
    const message = await client.messages.create({
      body: 'Your message here', // Keep under 160 characters
      from: 'YourSenderID', // Alphanumeric sender ID
      to: '+2691234567' // Comoros number format
    });
    
    console.log(`Message sent successfully: ${message.sid}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers direct carrier connections in Comoros with high deliverability rates.

import axios from 'axios';

async function sendSinchSMS() {
  const API_TOKEN = 'YOUR_API_TOKEN';
  const SERVICE_PLAN_ID = 'YOUR_SERVICE_PLAN_ID';
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      `https://sms.api.sinch.com/xms/v1/${SERVICE_PLAN_ID}/batches`,
      {
        from: 'YourSenderID',
        to: ['+2691234567'],
        body: 'Your message here'
      },
      {
        headers: {
          'Authorization': `Bearer ${API_TOKEN}`,
          'Content-Type': 'application/json'
        }
      }
    );
    
    console.log('Message sent:', response.data.id);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sending failed:', error.response?.data);
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Comoros with detailed delivery reporting.

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

const messagebird = MessageBird('YOUR_ACCESS_KEY');

function sendMessageBirdSMS() {
  const params = {
    originator: 'YourCompany',
    recipients: ['+2691234567'],
    body: 'Your message here',
    reportUrl: 'https://your-webhook-url.com/delivery-reports'
  };

  messagebird.messages.create(params, (err, response) => {
    if (err) {
      console.error('Error:', err);
      return;
    }
    console.log('Message sent:', response.id);
  });
}

Plivo

Plivo offers competitive rates for SMS delivery to Comoros with good delivery rates.

import plivo from 'plivo';

const client = new plivo.Client(
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID,
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN
);

async function sendPlivoSMS() {
  try {
    const message = await client.messages.create({
      src: 'YourSenderID', // Your sender ID
      dst: '2691234567', // Destination number
      text: 'Your message here',
      url: 'https://your-webhook-url.com/delivery-status'
    });
    
    console.log('Message sent:', message.messageUuid);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sending failed:', error);
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Default rate limit: 30 messages per second
• Batch sending recommended for large volumes
• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic

Throughput Management Strategies:

• Queue messages using Redis or similar
• Implement rate limiting middleware
• Monitor delivery rates and adjust sending speed
• Use batch APIs when available

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive logging
• Monitor delivery receipts
• Track common error codes:
  • 4001: Invalid number format
  • 4002: Network not available
  • 4003: Message blocked
• Store delivery status updates

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways

1. Compliance Priorities

   • Obtain explicit consent
   • Honor opt-out requests
   • Respect sending hours
   • Maintain clean contact lists

2. Technical Considerations

   • Use proper number formatting (+269)
   • Implement retry logic
   • Monitor delivery rates
   • Test across carriers

3. Best Practices

   • Localize content
   • Keep messages concise
   • Regular list cleaning
   • Monitor engagement metrics

Next Steps

1. Review ANRTIC regulations at www.anrtic.km
2. Consult local legal counsel for compliance review
3. Set up test accounts with preferred SMS providers
4. Implement delivery monitoring systems

Additional Resources

• ANRTIC Guidelines: www.anrtic.km/guidelines
• Comoros Telecom Laws: www.comorostelecom.km/laws
• SMS Best Practices Guide: www.gsma.com/comoros-sms

Contact Information:

• ANRTIC Support: +269 XXX XXX
• Technical Support: support@anrtic.km
• Compliance Office: compliance@anrtic.km