Democratic Republic Of The Congo SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Democratic Republic Of The Congo SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has a growing mobile telecommunications market dominated by major operators including Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel. SMS remains a crucial communication channel, particularly for business messaging and notifications, with widespread mobile adoption across urban areas. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity in cities with reliable internet connectivity, SMS continues to be the most reliable messaging channel due to inconsistent internet coverage across the country's vast territory.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The DRC supports standard SMS features with some limitations, offering concatenated messaging and alphanumeric sender IDs, though two-way messaging is not supported.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. No additional requirements are applicable since the feature is unavailable.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenation is supported, though availability may vary by sender ID type.
Message length rules: Standard SMS character limits apply before message splitting occurs.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding are supported, with message splitting varying based on the chosen encoding.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. Best practice is to ensure any media content is hosted on a reliable, accessible platform and the URL is shortened to preserve message space.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This means phone numbers remain tied to their original network operators, simplifying message routing and delivery.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in the DRC.
Attempts to send SMS to landline numbers will result in a 400 response with error code 21614, and the message will not appear in logs or incur charges.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The telecommunication sector in the DRC is governed by Framework Law n° 013/2002 and Law No. 014/2002, with oversight from the Regulatory Authority of Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC). These laws establish the framework for telecommunications services, including SMS messaging.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Written or electronic consent must be obtained before sending marketing messages
• Keep detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
• Clearly communicate the type of messages subscribers will receive
• Provide transparent information about message frequency and purpose

Best practices for documenting consent:

• Maintain timestamped records of opt-in actions
• Store the source and method of consent acquisition
• Keep records of the specific terms users agreed to
• Regularly audit and update consent records

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard STOP and HELP commands
• Commands should be recognized in both French and local languages
• Common keywords include:
  • STOP, ARRET, ARRÊT (stop messages)
  • AIDE, HELP (get assistance)
• Responses to these commands should be immediate and in French

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

While the DRC does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry, businesses should:

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Keep records of opted-out numbers for at least two years
• Regularly clean contact lists against suppression databases

Time Zone Sensitivity

The DRC spans multiple time zones, so consider:

• Sending messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
• Accounting for different time zones within the country
• Avoiding messages during national holidays
• Only sending urgent messages outside these hours

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Supported across major networks
Registration requirements: Pre-registration required for Vodacom (63001); dynamic usage allowed on other networks
Sender ID preservation: Yes, except when replaced by generic alpha sender ID or random short code on certain networks

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic: Not supported
• International: Fully supported

Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved for international long codes
Provisioning time: Immediate for international long codes
Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication

Short Codes

Support: Available through major carriers
Provisioning time: 8-12 weeks for approval
Use cases:

• Marketing campaigns
• Customer service
• Alerts and notifications
• Premium SMS services

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Restricted content includes:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or explicit material
• Unauthorized financial services
• Political messaging without proper authorization
• Pharmaceutical promotions without approval

Content Filtering

Known carrier filtering rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs should be from approved domains
• Message content should be in French or local languages

Tips to avoid blocking:

• Avoid excessive punctuation
• Use approved URL shorteners
• Keep content clear and professional
• Avoid spam trigger words

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear calls-to-action
• Use personalization thoughtfully
• Maintain consistent sender IDs

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 4-5 messages per month per subscriber
• Respect quiet hours (8 PM - 8 AM)
• Consider religious and cultural observances
• Space out messages appropriately

Localization

• Primary languages: French and local languages
• Consider regional language preferences
• Use clear, simple language
• Avoid colloquialisms and idioms

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Confirm opt-out with one final message
• Maintain accurate opt-out records
• Regular database cleaning

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across all major carriers
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular performance reporting

SMS API integrations for Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to the DRC. Here's how to implement it:

import * as Twilio from 'twilio';

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

// Function to send SMS to DRC
async function sendSMSToDRC(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    // Ensure the phone number is in E.164 format for DRC (+243)
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+243') ? to : `+243${to}`;

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

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

Sinch

Sinch offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for the DRC market:

import { SinchClient } from '@sinch/sdk-core';

// Initialize Sinch client
const sinchClient = new SinchClient({
  projectId: 'YOUR_PROJECT_ID',
  keyId: 'YOUR_KEY_ID',
  keySecret: 'YOUR_KEY_SECRET'
});

// Function to send SMS using Sinch
async function sendSMSWithSinch(
  recipientNumber: string,
  messageText: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    const response = await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({
      sendSMSRequestBody: {
        to: [recipientNumber],
        from: 'YOUR_SENDER_ID',
        body: messageText,
        // DRC-specific parameters
        delivery_report: 'summary',
        flash_message: false
      }
    });

    console.log('Message sent:', response.id);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird (correcting from "Bird") provides SMS services for the DRC:

import messagebird from 'messagebird';

// Initialize MessageBird client
const mbClient = messagebird('YOUR_ACCESS_KEY');

// Function to send SMS via MessageBird
function sendSMSWithMessageBird(
  recipient: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
): Promise<any> {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
    mbClient.messages.create({
      originator: senderId,
      recipients: [recipient],
      body: message,
      // DRC-specific parameters
      datacoding: 'auto',    // Automatic encoding detection
      reportUrl: 'https://your-webhook-url.com/delivery-reports'
    }, (err, response) => {
      if (err) {
        reject(err);
        return;
      }
      resolve(response);
    });
  });
}

Plivo

Plivo's API integration for DRC SMS messaging:

import plivo from 'plivo';

// Initialize Plivo client
const plivoClient = new plivo.Client(
  'YOUR_AUTH_ID',
  'YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN'
);

// Function to send SMS using Plivo
async function sendSMSWithPlivo(
  destination: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    const response = await plivoClient.messages.create({
      src: senderId,           // Your sender ID
      dst: destination,        // Destination number
      text: message,
      // DRC-specific options
      url: 'https://your-webhook-url.com/delivery-status',
      method: 'POST'
    });

    console.log('Message sent:', response.messageUuid[0]);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Plivo Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Default rate limits vary by provider:
  • Twilio: 100 messages/second
  • Sinch: 30 messages/second
  • MessageBird: 60 messages/second
  • Plivo: 50 messages/second

Strategies for large-scale sending:

• Implement queuing systems (Redis/RabbitMQ)
• Use batch APIs where available
• Implement exponential backoff for retries
• Monitor throughput and adjust accordingly

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive logging
• Monitor delivery receipts
• Track common error codes
• Set up automated alerts for failures
• Maintain error logs for compliance

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Always use proper phone number formatting (+243)
• Implement proper error handling and logging
• Monitor delivery rates and engagement
• Follow local regulations and best practices

Next Steps:

1. Review ARPTC regulations at www.arptc.gouv.cd
2. Consult with local legal counsel for compliance
3. Set up test accounts with preferred SMS providers
4. Implement proper monitoring and reporting systems

Additional Resources:

• ARPTC Guidelines: Official Documentation
• Framework Law n° 013/2002: Legal Framework
• Industry Best Practices: GSMA Guidelines