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SMS Guidelines for Guinea: Compliance, Message Length, and More

Sending SMS in Guinea involves specific guidelines and limitations crucial for businesses and developers. This article outlines key aspects of SMS messaging in Guinea, including two-way SMS support, message concatenation, and compliance considerations.

Two-Way SMS Support

In Guinea, two-way SMS is not supported. Users cannot reply to messages sent via SMS, and businesses cannot engage in SMS conversations with recipients. If two-way communication is necessary, businesses should explore alternative methods or platforms.

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Guinea. Users cannot retain their phone numbers when switching between mobile service providers. This is vital for businesses managing long-term communication strategies, as customers may change their phone numbers when switching carriers.

Concatenated Message Support

Concatenated messages, which allow longer SMS messages to be split and reassembled on the recipient's device, are not supported in Guinea. Messages exceeding the standard SMS character limit will not be split into multiple parts and may be truncated or fail to send. Businesses should ensure SMS content remains within the character limit to avoid delivery issues.

Message Length and Encoding

The message length for SMS in Guinea depends on the encoding used, but specific character limits are not detailed in the guidelines. As a general rule, businesses should keep messages short and concise to ensure successful delivery.

MMS Support

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is not supported in Guinea. MMS messages are converted to SMS with an embedded URL, meaning recipients receive a link to view multimedia content rather than direct delivery to their device.

Sending SMS to Landline Numbers

Sending SMS to landline numbers in Guinea is not supported. If an SMS is sent to a landline number, the Sent REST API will return a 400 response with error code 21614. The message will not appear in logs, and the account will not be charged. Businesses should ensure they are sending SMS messages to valid mobile numbers only.

Compliance Considerations

Compliance is critical in SMS messaging in any locale, including Guinea. Businesses should consult with qualified legal counsel to ensure compliance with all applicable laws. Best practices include:

  • Obtain opt-in consent: Always secure explicit opt-in consent from users before sending communication, especially for marketing or non-essential messages.
  • Respect local time zones: Send messages during the recipient's daytime hours unless urgent.
  • Support HELP/STOP keywords: SMS campaigns should support HELP and STOP messages in the recipient's local language.
  • Avoid contacting users on do-not-call registries: Ensure message recipients are not listed on any do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

For more information on compliance, refer to official guidelines.

Conclusion

When sending SMS messages to recipients in Guinea, it is crucial to understand the limitations and compliance requirements. Two-way SMS is not supported, concatenated messages are not possible, and MMS messages are converted to SMS with embedded URLs. Additionally, businesses must ensure they are sending messages to valid mobile numbers and adhere to local laws and best practices for SMS communication. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your SMS campaigns in Guinea are both compliant and successful.