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Benin SMS Guidelines: Message Support, Compliance, and Best Practices

Sending SMS messages to recipients in Benin requires adherence to specific guidelines and restrictions. This comprehensive guide covers SMS support, message handling, and compliance best practices.

Locale Overview

Benin, part of the Middle East & Africa region, is identified by the ISO code BJ and the mobile country code 616. The dialing code for Benin is +229, essential for calls or SMS to local recipients.

Two-Way SMS and Number Portability

  • Two-Way SMS: Not supported in Benin, preventing direct back-and-forth messaging.
  • Number Portability: Also unavailable, meaning users cannot retain their mobile number when switching carriers.

Message Handling and Concatenation

  • Message Concatenation: Supported in Benin, allowing messages exceeding the character limit to be split and reassembled on the recipient's device. This may vary based on sender ID and character encoding.

MMS Support

  • MMS: Not directly supported. Instead, MMS messages convert to SMS with an embedded URL, enabling recipients to access multimedia content via a link.

Sending SMS to Landlines

  • Landline SMS: Not supported. Attempts to send SMS to landlines will result in a 400 error with code 21614. The message will not be delivered or logged, and no charges will apply.

Compliance Considerations

Adhering to local regulations and best practices is crucial when sending SMS messages in Benin. Businesses should consult legal counsel to ensure compliance with applicable laws.

Best Practices for SMS Campaigns:

  • Get Opt-In Consent: Obtain explicit consent before sending communications, especially marketing messages.
  • Respect Local Time Zones: Avoid sending messages outside of daytime hours unless urgent.
  • Support STOP/HELP Commands: Ensure these commands are available in the recipient's local language.
  • Do Not Contact Do-Not-Call Lists: Keep contact lists updated to exclude users on do-not-call registries.

By following these guidelines, your SMS campaigns in Benin will be both effective and compliant.

FAQs

Is two-way SMS supported in Benin?

No, two-way SMS is not supported.

What happens if I send an SMS to a landline in Benin?

The Sent REST API will return a 400 response with error code 21614, and the message will not be sent or logged.

Is number portability available in Benin?

No, number portability is not available.

Conclusion

Sending SMS messages to Benin requires careful attention to local guidelines and best practices. While two-way SMS and number portability are unavailable, features like concatenated messages and MMS conversion to SMS with embedded URLs are supported. Ensure compliance with local regulations by obtaining opt-in consent, respecting local time zones, and supporting STOP/HELP commands.

For more information on SMS compliance, visit the Benin Communications Authority website.