New Caledonia SMS Guide: Compliance, API Integration & Best Practices

New Caledonia SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Sending SMS to New Caledonia requires understanding the local telecommunications landscape. The Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT-NC) dominates New Caledonia's telecommunications market with a monopoly on fixed and mobile voice services, mobile internet, and fixed broadband access. OPT-NC operates as a public enterprise (established 2003) and serves as the primary mobile operator. As a French territory, New Caledonia follows French telecommunications standards while maintaining unique local characteristics. SMS remains crucial for business communications and authentication services, though OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity among personal users.

2025 Market Developments: (As of 2025) New Caledonia's telecommunications infrastructure is undergoing significant modernization. The 2G network shuts down on January 1, 2026, with the copper network phase-out beginning December 31, 2025 (no new copper subscriptions after this date). Smartphone penetration will reach 71% by 2025. OPT-NC is implementing private 5G networks in industrial sectors, advancing the territory's next-generation connectivity.

Network Infrastructure: (Verified 2025) OPT-NC operates on multiple frequency bands: 2G on 900 MHz, 3G on 900 MHz (rural areas) and 2100 MHz (urban centers), and 4G/LTE on 800, 1800, and 2100 MHz (corresponding to LTE bands 1, 3, and 20).

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in New Caledonia

New Caledonia supports standard SMS features with some limitations, following French telecommunications infrastructure while maintaining territory-specific requirements.

Two-way SMS Support in New Caledonia

Support: No. Two-way SMS is not supported through most providers due to OPT-NC infrastructure limitations.

Design Impact: Build your SMS strategies around one-way communications:

• Notifications and alerts
• Marketing messages
• Authentication codes
• Service updates

Workarounds: If you need interactive responses, consider these alternatives:

• MMS with embedded URL links (converts to SMS)
• Direct users to web-based response forms
• Use callback numbers for voice support
• Implement email response channels

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes. Most sender ID types support concatenated messages, though carrier support may vary.

Character Limits by Encoding:

Billing: You're charged per segment sent. A 200-character message using GSM-7 encoding splits into 2 segments and costs 2× the single message rate.

Encoding: Messages automatically split and rejoin based on your chosen encoding. Use GSM-7 for Latin characters to maximize characters per segment.

MMS Support

Automatic Conversion: MMS messages convert to SMS with an embedded URL link. This ensures compatibility across all devices while allowing you to share rich media through a web-based interface.

How It Works:

1. You send an MMS with image/video
2. The system uploads media to a secure server
3. Recipients receive an SMS with a clickable link
4. Link directs to a mobile-optimized viewing page

Technical Details:

• Link expiration: Typically 30 days (varies by provider)
• HTTPS encryption protects media URLs
• Links work on all devices with web browsers

Billing: MMS-to-SMS conversion costs more than standard SMS. Check your provider's pricing – typically 2–3× standard SMS rates.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in New Caledonia. This simplifies message routing as numbers remain tied to their original carrier.

Sending SMS to Landlines

You cannot send SMS to landline numbers in New Caledonia. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers result in a 400 response with error code 21614. The message will not be delivered or charged to your account.

SMS Compliance Requirements for New Caledonia

As a French territory, New Caledonia falls under both GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and French telecommunications regulations. GDPR became effective May 25, 2018, and applies to all EU member states and their territories. Ordinance No. 2018-1125 (December 12, 2018) explicitly extended GDPR to New Caledonia and other French overseas territories, ensuring comprehensive data protection coverage.

GDPR Penalties: Non-compliance can result in fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover (whichever is higher).

Regulatory Oversight:

• OPT-NC (Office des Postes et Télécommunications) – oversees local telecommunications operations
• ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes) – France's independent authority providing broader regulatory oversight

(As of October 2, 2021, a decree transposing the European Electronic Communications Code specifies operator obligations for security incident notification, emergency communications, reporting to ARCEP, interoperability, and consumer information.)

Compliant Consent Examples:

• ✅ Checkbox with clear opt-in text: "I agree to receive SMS marketing from [Brand]"
• ✅ Web form with separate consent checkbox (not pre-checked)
• ✅ Double opt-in: confirmation SMS after initial signup
• ❌ Pre-checked consent boxes
• ❌ Implied consent from unrelated transactions
• ❌ Bundled consent for multiple purposes

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Obtain written consent before sending marketing messages
• Consent must be freely given, specific, and informed
• Maintain consent documentation and keep it easily accessible
• Clearly state messaging purpose at opt-in
• Retain consent records for 3 years minimum (GDPR requirement)

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

Include clear opt-out instructions in all marketing messages. Support these standard keywords:

• English: STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT
• French: ARRET, STOP, FIN

Send response messages in the same language as the opt-out request.

Response Templates:

• English: "You've been unsubscribed from [Brand] SMS. You won't receive further messages. Reply START to resubscribe."
• French: "Vous êtes désabonné des SMS de [Brand]. Vous ne recevrez plus de messages. Répondez START pour vous réabonner."

Implementation Example:

async function processOptOut(message: string, phoneNumber: string) {
  const stopKeywords = ['STOP', 'ARRET', 'END', 'CANCEL', 'FIN', 'QUIT', 'UNSUBSCRIBE'];
  const normalizedMessage = message.trim().toUpperCase();

  if (stopKeywords.includes(normalizedMessage)) {
    // Update database immediately
    await database.updateSubscription(phoneNumber, {
      status: 'unsubscribed',
      date: new Date()
    });

    // Send confirmation (match language)
    const isFrench = ['ARRET', 'FIN'].includes(normalizedMessage);
    const response = isFrench
      ? "Vous êtes désabonné des SMS de [Brand]."
      : "You've been unsubscribed from [Brand] SMS.";

    await sendSMS(phoneNumber, response);
  }
}

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

New Caledonia doesn't maintain a separate Do Not Call registry. You must:

• Maintain your own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests immediately
• Remove numbers from all marketing lists within 24 hours
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove inactive or opted-out numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

• Observe New Caledonia Time (NCT, UTC+11)
• Follow French marketing restrictions:
  • No marketing SMS between 10 PM and 8 AM
  • Avoid sending on Sundays and French public holidays
• Messages sent during restricted times queue for the next available window

SMS Sender ID Options for New Caledonia

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator Network Capability: Supported

Registration Requirements: No pre-registration required. Dynamic usage allowed.

Character Limits: 11 characters maximum

Allowed Characters:

• Uppercase letters (A–Z)
• Lowercase letters (a–z)
• Numbers (0–9)
• Spaces (count toward limit)

Sender ID Preservation: Generally preserved as sent

Rejection Scenarios: Your sender ID may be replaced or rejected if:

• It exceeds 11 characters
• Contains special characters (@, #, $, etc.)
• Resembles a phone number
• Contains offensive or misleading content

Best Practices:

• Use your brand name (e.g., "YourBrand")
• Keep it short and recognizable
• Use consistent sender IDs across campaigns
• Avoid numbers-only sender IDs

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes: Supported but not available through most providers
• International long codes: Available with restrictions

Sender ID Preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved

Provisioning Time: 1–2 business days for international numbers

Provisioning Process:

1. Submit number request to your provider
2. Provider verifies business information
3. Number is assigned to your account
4. Configure number for SMS sending
5. Test delivery before production use

Use Cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication

Short Codes

Support: Not currently supported in New Caledonia

Provisioning Time: N/A

Use Cases: N/A

SMS Content Restrictions in New Caledonia

Restricted Industries:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or services
• Cryptocurrency promotions
• Unauthorized financial services

Penalties: Violations can result in message blocking, account suspension, or fines. Repeated violations may lead to permanent service termination.

Legal Framework: Restrictions stem from French Law No. 2010-476 (May 12, 2010) on online gambling and French Monetary and Financial Code provisions on financial services.

Regulated Industries:

• Banking and financial services: Include regulatory disclaimers, verify recipient identity, maintain transaction logs
• Healthcare messages: Comply with GDPR Article 9 (special category data), encrypt patient data, obtain explicit consent
• Insurance services: Include company registration number, provide clear policy information, allow opt-out

Compliant Message Templates:

• Banking: "[Bank]: Your transfer of €100 to [Name] completed. Balance: €1,234. Questions? Call 687-XXXX-XX"
• Healthcare: "[Clinic]: Appointment reminder for [Date] at [Time]. Reply C to confirm or call 687-XXXX-XX"
• Insurance: "[Insurer] (Reg. #12345): Your claim #ABC-123 is approved. Details at [link]. STOP to opt-out"

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Rules:

• Use URLs from approved domains (your verified business domain or provider's domain)
• Avoid excessive capitalization (keep <30% of message in caps)
• Limit special characters (avoid strings like "$$$" or "!!!")
• Avoid embedded images or rich media

Domain Approval: Register your domain with your SMS provider. Submit business documentation and domain verification records (DNS TXT). Approval takes 1–3 business days.

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use clear, consistent sender IDs
• Maintain consistent sending patterns
• Avoid URL shorteners where possible
• Keep content professional and relevant

Filtered vs. Successful Messages:

• ❌ Filtered: "!!!WIN BIG MONEY NOW!!! Click http://bit.ly/xyz"
• ✅ Successful: "Your order #12345 has shipped. Track at yourbrand.com/track"
• ❌ Filtered: "FREE FREE FREE CALL NOW 100% GUARANTEED"
• ✅ Successful: "20% off your next purchase. Use code SAVE20. Shop at yourbrand.com"

SMS Best Practices for New Caledonia

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-actions
• Personalize messages using recipient's name or relevant details
• Maintain consistent branding across messages

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit marketing messages to 2–4 per month per recipient
• Respect local business hours (8 AM – 6 PM NCT)
• Consider local events and holidays
• Space out bulk sends to avoid network congestion

Localization

Primary Languages: French (required) and local Kanak languages

Language Usage:

• French: 96% of population (official language)
• Kanak languages: 28 indigenous languages spoken by 40% of population
• Use French for all business communications
• Consider bilingual messages for government or community services

French SMS Templates:

• Transactional: "[Marque]: Votre commande #12345 est expédiée. Suivez-la sur [lien]."
• Authentication: "[Marque]: Votre code de vérification est 123456. Valide 10 minutes."
• Marketing: "[Marque]: Profitez de -20% avec le code SAVE20. Valable jusqu'au [date]."

Formatting:

• Use DD/MM/YYYY date format (e.g., 15/03/2025)
• Use 24-hour time format (e.g., 14:30)
• Currency: CFP franc (XPF) symbol: F or ₣

Cultural Considerations:

• Respect local holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), Christmas
• Avoid sending during traditional Kanak ceremonies (consult local calendar)
• Use formal tone ("vous" not "tu") unless relationship is established

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs in real-time
• Maintain centralized opt-out database
• Confirm opt-outs with acknowledgment message
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

Key Metrics:

• Delivery rate: Target >95% (below 90% indicates issues)
• Response rate: Typical 2–8% for marketing, 15–30% for transactional
• Opt-out rate: Target <0.5% (above 2% indicates messaging problems)
• Error rate: Target <1%

Performance Benchmarks:

• Good: 98% delivery, <0.3% opt-outs, <5 sec delivery time
• Average: 95% delivery, 0.5% opt-outs, <15 sec delivery time
• Poor: <92% delivery, >1% opt-outs, >30 sec delivery time

Testing Checklist:

• Test on iOS and Android devices
• Verify messages display correctly with special characters
• Check link functionality on mobile browsers
• Test opt-out keyword processing
• Verify sender ID displays correctly

Common Delivery Issues:

• Invalid number format: Verify +687 prefix and 6-digit local number
• Carrier blocking: Check content for spam triggers
• Rate limiting: Reduce sending speed
• Network timeout: Implement retry logic with exponential backoff

Monitoring Tools:

• Provider dashboards: Twilio Console, Sinch Dashboard, Bird Analytics
• Custom solutions: ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana), Grafana + Prometheus
• Setup alerts for: delivery rate <90%, error rate >2%, unusual opt-out spikes

SMS API Integrations for New Caledonia

Twilio SMS API for New Caledonia

Twilio provides robust SMS capabilities for New Caledonia through their REST API. Authentication uses your Account SID and Auth Token. For detailed implementation guidance, see our Twilio SMS integration tutorials.

import * as Twilio from "twilio";

// Initialize Twilio client with environment variables
const client = new Twilio(
  process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,    // Your Account SID
  process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN      // Your Auth Token
);

// Function to send SMS to New Caledonia
async function sendSMSToNewCaledonia(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
) {
  try {
    // Format phone number for New Caledonia (+687)
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith("+687") ? to : `+687${to}`;

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      from: senderId,         // Alphanumeric sender ID or Twilio number
      to: formattedNumber,
      // Optional parameters for delivery tracking
      statusCallback: "https://your-webhook.com/status"
    });

    console.log(`Message sent! SID: ${response.sid}`);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error sending message:", error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Sinch SMS API for New Caledonia

Sinch offers SMS services through their REST API with OAuth2 authentication. Learn more about Sinch API integration patterns for production deployments.

import axios from "axios";

class SinchSMSService {
  private readonly apiToken: string;
  private readonly serviceId: string;
  private readonly baseUrl = "https://sms.api.sinch.com/xms/v1";

  constructor(apiToken: string, serviceId: string) {
    this.apiToken = apiToken;
    this.serviceId = serviceId;
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string) {
    try {
      const response = await axios.post(
        `${this.baseUrl}/${this.serviceId}/batches`,
        {
          from: "YourBrand",  // Alphanumeric sender ID
          to: [to],           // Array of recipient numbers
          body: message,
          delivery_report: "summary"
        },
        {
          headers: {
            "Authorization": `Bearer ${this.apiToken}`,
            "Content-Type": "application/json"
          }
        }
      );

      return response.data;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Sinch SMS Error:", error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

Bird SMS API for New Caledonia

Bird's API provides SMS capabilities with API key authentication. Explore our Bird SMS implementation guides for best practices.

import axios from "axios";

interface BirdSMSConfig {
  apiKey: string;
  workspaceId: string;
  channelId: string;
}

class BirdSMSService {
  private readonly config: BirdSMSConfig;

  constructor(config: BirdSMSConfig) {
    this.config = config;
  }

  async sendSMS(phoneNumber: string, messageText: string) {
    const url = `https://api.bird.com/workspaces/${this.config.workspaceId}/channels/${this.config.channelId}/messages`;

    try {
      const response = await axios.post(
        url,
        {
          receiver: {
            contacts: [{
              identifierValue: phoneNumber
            }]
          },
          body: {
            type: "text",
            text: {
              text: messageText
            }
          }
        },
        {
          headers: {
            "Authorization": `AccessKey ${this.config.apiKey}`,
            "Content-Type": "application/json"
          }
        }
      );

      return response.data;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Bird SMS Error:", error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

Provider-Specific Rate Limits:

• Twilio: 100 messages/second (default), up to 2,000 messages/second with approval
• Sinch: 200 messages/second (default), custom limits available
• Bird: 150 messages/second (default), scalable based on plan

Throughput Management Strategies:

1. Message Queuing: Implement a queue system (Redis, RabbitMQ, AWS SQS) to buffer messages and control send rate
2. Batch APIs: Use provider batch endpoints when sending >100 messages (reduces API calls by 10–20×)
3. Rate Monitoring: Track delivery rates in real-time and adjust sending speed automatically
4. Circuit Breakers: Stop sending after N consecutive failures (e.g., 5) to prevent cascade failures

Exponential Backoff Example:

async function sendWithRetry(
  sendFn: () => Promise<any>,
  maxRetries: number = 3
): Promise<any> {
  for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++) {
    try {
      return await sendFn();
    } catch (error) {
      if (attempt === maxRetries) throw error;

      // Calculate backoff: 2^attempt * 1000ms (1s, 2s, 4s)
      const backoffMs = Math.pow(2, attempt) * 1000;
      console.log(`Retry attempt ${attempt} after ${backoffMs}ms`);
      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, backoffMs));
    }
  }
}

Error Handling and Reporting

Common Error Codes by Provider:

Retry Strategies by Error Type:

• Invalid numbers (21614, 40001): Don't retry, remove from list
• Network timeouts: Retry 3× with exponential backoff
• Rate limits (40301, 429): Wait, then retry with reduced rate
• Authentication errors (401): Don't retry, alert ops team
• Invalid sender ID: Don't retry, fix configuration

Monitoring and Alerting Setup:

interface AlertThreshold {
  errorRate: number;      // Alert if >2% errors
  deliveryRate: number;   // Alert if <90% delivery
  optOutRate: number;     // Alert if >1% opt-outs
}

class SMSMonitor {
  private thresholds: AlertThreshold = {
    errorRate: 0.02,
    deliveryRate: 0.90,
    optOutRate: 0.01
  };

  async checkMetrics() {
    const metrics = await this.getMetrics();

    if (metrics.errorRate > this.thresholds.errorRate) {
      await this.sendAlert(`High error rate: ${metrics.errorRate * 100}%`);
    }

    if (metrics.deliveryRate < this.thresholds.deliveryRate) {
      await this.sendAlert(`Low delivery rate: ${metrics.deliveryRate * 100}%`);
    }

    if (metrics.optOutRate > this.thresholds.optOutRate) {
      await this.sendAlert(`High opt-out rate: ${metrics.optOutRate * 100}%`);
    }
  }
}

Logging Best Practices:

interface SMSLogEntry {
  messageId: string;
  timestamp: Date;
  recipient: string;
  status: string;
  errorCode?: string;
  errorMessage?: string;
  provider: string;
  retryCount: number;
}

class SMSLogger {
  async logMessage(entry: SMSLogEntry) {
    // Structured logging for easy querying
    console.log(JSON.stringify({
      ...entry,
      environment: process.env.NODE_ENV,
      service: 'sms-service'
    }));

    // Store in database for historical analysis
    await database.logs.insert(entry);

    // Send to monitoring service (DataDog, New Relic, etc.)
    if (entry.errorCode) {
      await monitoring.trackError(entry);
    }
  }
}

New Caledonia SMS FAQs

How do I send SMS to New Caledonia?

Format phone numbers with the +687 country code followed by the 6-digit local number. Use alphanumeric sender IDs (no registration required) or international long codes. Two-way SMS is not supported – design campaigns for one-way communications like notifications, alerts, and marketing messages.

What is New Caledonia's SMS country code?

New Caledonia uses country code +687 with Mobile Country Code (MCC) 546. As a French territory in Oceania, it follows the E.164 phone number format standard. All SMS must include the +687 prefix for proper delivery.

Is GDPR compliance required for SMS in New Caledonia?

Yes. Ordinance No. 2018-1125 (December 12, 2018) extended GDPR to New Caledonia and French overseas territories. Obtain written consent before sending marketing messages, support STOP/ARRET opt-out keywords, maintain consent documentation, and honor opt-outs within 24 hours.

Which SMS API providers support New Caledonia?

Twilio, Sinch, and Bird all support SMS delivery to New Caledonia. Each provider offers REST APIs with alphanumeric sender ID support (no pre-registration needed) and international long code provisioning (1–2 business days). Choose based on your volume, features, and integration requirements.

What are New Caledonia's SMS sending restrictions?

No marketing SMS between 10 PM and 8 AM (NCT, UTC+11). Avoid Sundays and French public holidays. Limit to 2–4 marketing messages per month per recipient. You cannot send SMS to landlines (error code 21614). Restricted industries include gambling, adult content, cryptocurrency, and unauthorized financial services.

Does New Caledonia support two-way SMS messaging?

No. Two-way SMS is not supported through most providers due to OPT-NC infrastructure limitations. Design your messaging strategy around one-way communications. For interactive experiences, consider using MMS (converts to SMS with embedded URL) or directing recipients to web-based interfaces.

What is OPT-NC and how does it affect SMS?

OPT-NC (Office des Postes et Télécommunications) is New Caledonia's exclusive telecommunications operator, established in 2003. It holds a monopoly on mobile services and operates 2G (shutting down January 1, 2026), 3G, 4G LTE, and private 5G networks. All SMS traffic routes through OPT-NC infrastructure.

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Format all numbers with +687 prefix
• Implement proper error handling and logging
• Follow French GDPR compliance requirements
• Respect local business hours and holidays

Implementation Checklist:

• Week 1: Choose SMS provider and set up account
• Week 1: Implement consent collection and opt-out processing
• Week 2: Build message templates with localization
• Week 2: Set up monitoring and alerting
• Week 3: Test with small user group
• Week 4: Full launch with gradual volume increase

Next Steps:

1. Review OPT-NC regulations at www.opt.nc
2. Consult ARCEP guidelines for French territories
3. Implement proper consent management
4. Set up monitoring and reporting systems

Additional Resources:

• OPT-NC Telecommunications Guidelines: www.opt.nc/guidelines
• ARCEP Regulatory Framework: www.arcep.fr
• French Data Protection Authority (CNIL): www.cnil.fr
• Local Business Hours and Holidays: www.gouv.nc
• Developer Support: Twilio Docs (twilio.com/docs), Sinch Docs (developers.sinch.com), Bird Docs (bird.com/docs)