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SMS Guidelines for China: Compliance, Message Length, and Restrictions

Sending SMS messages to China requires adherence to specific guidelines and restrictions. Whether your messages are transactional or promotional, understanding these regulations is crucial for successful delivery and avoiding penalties. This guide explores the key SMS guidelines for China, focusing on compliance, message length, and prohibited content.

Key Features of SMS in China

Two-Way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in China. This means recipients cannot reply directly to your messages.

Number Portability

China does not support number portability. Users cannot transfer their mobile numbers when switching carriers.

Concatenated Message Support

China supports concatenated messages, allowing long messages to be split and reassembled. However, this depends on sender ID type and character encoding. For optimal delivery, limit message length to 500 characters or 8 segments with UCS2 encoding.

MMS Support

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is not available in China. Consider alternative platforms for sending multimedia content.

SMS to Landline Numbers

Sending SMS to landline numbers in China is not supported. Attempts will result in a 400 response with error code 21614, and the message will not be logged or charged.

Compliance Considerations

Compliance is critical when sending SMS in China due to strict content regulations. Violations can lead to fines or network disconnection. Key restrictions include:

  • URLs: Prohibited in SMS content.
  • Political Content: Messages with political undertones or content violating China's Constitution are banned.
  • Illegal Content: Content deemed illegal under Chinese law is forbidden.
  • Pornographic Content: Explicit content is not allowed.
  • Fraudulent Content: Fraudulent messages or phishing attempts are prohibited.
  • Financial Marketing: Messages about loans, credit cards, securities, stocks, crude oil, futures, gold, and cryptocurrency are banned.

Promotional messages cannot be sent between 07:00 PM and 08:00 AM local time.

Message Delivery to M2M Numbers

For Machine-to-Machine (M2M) numbers, delivery is on a best-effort basis with no guarantee of success.

Best Practices for SMS in China

  1. Obtain Opt-in Consent: Secure opt-in consent before sending communications, especially marketing messages.
  2. Respect Time Zones: Send messages during local daytime hours unless urgent.
  3. Support STOP/HELP Commands: Ensure campaigns support commands like HELP and STOP in the local language.
  4. Respect Do-Not-Call Registries: Avoid messaging recipients on do-not-call or do-not-disturb lists.

Conclusion

Navigating SMS messaging in China requires careful attention to technical and regulatory guidelines. From message length to strict content restrictions, businesses must comply with local laws to avoid fines and ensure message delivery. Consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage SMS campaigns in China, ensuring successful and compliant message delivery.

For more information on SMS regulations, visit the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China.