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SMS Guidelines for Brunei: Best Practices, Compliance, and Technical Information

When sending SMS messages in Brunei, understanding local regulations, technical limitations, and best practices is crucial for compliance and optimal message delivery. This guide provides a detailed overview of SMS guidelines specific to Brunei, including two-way SMS support, message concatenation, and legal considerations.

Key Information About SMS in Brunei

  • Locale Name: Brunei
  • ISO Code: BN
  • Region: Asia
  • Mobile Country Code: 528
  • Dialing Code: +673

Two-Way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Brunei. While you can send messages to users in Brunei, they cannot reply directly via SMS.

Number Portability

Number portability is unavailable in Brunei, meaning users cannot retain their mobile numbers when switching providers. This can affect messaging campaign consistency if users frequently change providers.

Concatenated Message Support

Brunei supports concatenated messages, allowing long SMS messages to be split into segments and reassembled by the recipient’s device. However, this feature may not be available for certain sender ID types, and message splitting can vary depending on character encoding.

MMS Support

Standard Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is not supported in Brunei. Multimedia content sent via SMS will be converted into an SMS with an embedded URL, allowing recipients to access content through a clickable link.

Sending SMS to Landline Numbers

Sending SMS to landline numbers in Brunei is not supported. Attempts to send an SMS to a landline will result in a 400 error with the code 21614. The message will not appear in logs, and the account will not be charged.

Compliance Considerations

Compliance is critical for any SMS campaign, especially when operating internationally. Businesses should consult legal counsel to ensure messaging practices adhere to local laws. Here are some best practices for SMS compliance in Brunei:

  1. Get Opt-In Consent: Obtain explicit consent from users before sending communications, especially marketing or non-essential messages.
  2. Respect Time Zones: Send messages during the recipient’s local daytime hours unless urgent.
  3. Support HELP/STOP Messages: SMS campaigns should support keywords like HELP and STOP in the recipient's language to manage message preferences.
  4. Avoid Contacting Do-Not-Call Registries: Ensure you do not send messages to users listed on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

Conclusion

Understanding the SMS guidelines for Brunei is crucial for ensuring compliant and effective messaging campaigns. While there are limitations, such as the lack of two-way SMS and number portability, adhering to best practices and compliance recommendations will help you successfully reach your audience in Brunei.

By following these guidelines, you can optimize SMS communications and avoid potential legal issues. Always consult legal professionals to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

For more information on SMS regulations, visit the Brunei Communications Authority.