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Haiti SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Haiti SMS Market Overview
Locale name:
Haiti
ISO code:
HT
Region
North America
Mobile country code (MCC)
372
Dialing Code
+509
Market Conditions: Haiti's mobile market is dominated by two major operators: Digicel and Natcom. SMS remains a critical communication channel due to limited smartphone penetration and internet connectivity challenges. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp are gaining popularity in urban areas, traditional SMS maintains widespread usage for both personal and business communications, especially in rural regions where network infrastructure is less developed.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Haiti
Haiti supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, primarily offering one-way messaging capabilities with support for concatenated messages and alphanumeric sender IDs.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Haiti for A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging.
Messages can only be sent one-way from applications to end users.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenation is supported for most sender ID types. Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply - 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding. Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported, with message splitting and rejoining varying based on the character encoding used.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Haiti. When MMS content is sent, it is automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. Best Practice: When sending multimedia content, ensure the URL is shortened and clearly labeled for recipient trust.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Haiti.
This means phone numbers remain tied to their original mobile operator, simplifying message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Haiti.
Attempts to send SMS to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614), the message will not be logged, and no charges will be incurred.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Haiti
Haiti's telecommunications sector is regulated by CONATEL (Conseil National des Télécommunications). While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, businesses must follow general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices for messaging.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Required: You must obtain and document clear opt-in consent before sending marketing or promotional messages. Best Practices for Consent:
Collect consent through written forms, web forms, or SMS keyword responses
Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
Clearly state the types of messages users will receive
Include your company name and message frequency in consent requests
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
All SMS campaigns must support standard opt-out keywords: STOP, ARRET, RETE (in both French and Haitian Creole)
HELP/AIDE messages must be supported in both French and Haitian Creole
Responses to these commands should be immediate and free of charge
Keep a record of all opt-out requests for compliance purposes
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Haiti does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Maintain their own suppression lists of opted-out numbers
Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
Regularly clean contact lists to remove inactive or invalid numbers
Document all opt-out requests and their processing dates
Time Zone Sensitivity
Haiti observes Eastern Time (ET/UTC-4) year-round. Best practices include:
Send messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
Avoid sending during religious holidays and national celebrations
Only send messages outside these hours for urgent communications (e.g., security alerts)
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Haiti
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Partially supported Registration requirements: No pre-registration required, dynamic usage supported Sender ID preservation: Yes, except for Operator Natcom (37203) where alphanumeric IDs are not supported Note: Generic sender IDs (INFO, SMS, NOTICE) are prohibited
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Domestic long codes not supported
International long codes fully supported
Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved Provisioning time: Immediate activation for international long codes Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages, alerts, and notifications
Short Codes
Support: Not currently available in Haiti Provisioning time: N/A Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Prohibited Content:
Political messaging
Religious content
Gambling and betting
Adult content
Cryptocurrency promotions
Unsolicited marketing messages
Content Filtering
Carrier Filtering Rules:
Messages containing restricted keywords are automatically blocked
URLs may trigger additional scrutiny
High-volume sending patterns may be flagged
Tips to Avoid Blocking:
Avoid URL shorteners when possible
Use clear, straightforward language
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Include clear company identification
Avoid excessive punctuation and all-caps text
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Haiti
Messaging Strategy
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
Include clear call-to-actions
Identify your business in each message
Use personalization thoughtfully (e.g., recipient's name)
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit to 4-5 messages per month per recipient
Space out messages to avoid overwhelming recipients
Consider local holidays and cultural events
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Localization
Support both French and Haitian Creole
Consider cultural nuances in message content
Use local date and time formats
Avoid colloquialisms that may not translate well
Opt-Out Management
Process opt-outs within 24 hours
Send confirmation of opt-out completion
Maintain opt-out lists across all campaigns
Regular audit of opt-out processing
Testing and Monitoring
Test messages across both major carriers (Digicel and Natcom)
Monitor delivery rates by carrier
Track opt-out rates and patterns
Regular testing of HELP/STOP functionality
Monitor for carrier filtering changes
SMS API integrations for Haiti
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API with comprehensive support for Haiti. Integration requires your Account SID and Auth Token from the Twilio Console.
import{ Twilio }from'twilio';// Initialize the client with your credentialsconst client =newTwilio(process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN);// Function to send SMS to HaitiasyncfunctionsendSMSToHaiti( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{// Ensure phone number is in E.164 format for Haiti (+509XXXXXXXX)const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+509')? to :`+509${to}`;const response =await client.messages.create({ body: message, from: senderId,// Alphanumeric sender ID or international number to: formattedNumber,});console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);}catch(error){console.error('Error sending message:', error);throw error;}}
Sinch
Sinch offers direct carrier connections in Haiti. Their API requires an API Token and Service Plan ID.
import{ SinchClient }from'@sinch/sdk';// Initialize Sinch clientconst sinchClient =newSinchClient({ apiToken: process.env.SINCH_API_TOKEN, servicePlanId: process.env.SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID,});// Function to send SMS using SinchasyncfunctionsendSinchSMS( recipientNumber:string, messageText:string):Promise<void>{try{const response =await sinchClient.sms.send({ to:[recipientNumber],// Must include +509 prefix message: messageText, from:'YourCompany',// Your approved sender ID});console.log(`Batch ID: ${response.batchId}`);}catch(error){console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);throw error;}}
MessageBird
MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Haiti with straightforward API integration.
import{ MessageBird }from'messagebird';// Initialize MessageBird clientconst messagebird =newMessageBird(process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_API_KEY);// Function to send SMS via MessageBirdasyncfunctionsendMessageBirdSMS( to:string, message:string, originator:string):Promise<void>{const params ={ originator,// Your sender ID recipients:[to],// Haiti number with +509 prefix body: message,};try{const response =awaitnewPromise((resolve, reject)=>{ messagebird.messages.create(params,(err, response)=>{if(err)reject(err);resolve(response);});});console.log('MessageBird Response:', response);}catch(error){console.error('MessageBird Error:', error);throw error;}}
Plivo
Plivo offers reliable SMS delivery to Haiti with good delivery rates and tracking capabilities.
import{ Client }from'plivo';// Initialize Plivo clientconst plivo =newClient( process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID, process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN);// Function to send SMS via PlivoasyncfunctionsendPlivoSMS( destination:string, message:string, sourceNumber:string):Promise<void>{try{const response =await plivo.messages.create({ src: sourceNumber,// Your Plivo number or sender ID dst: destination,// Haiti number (+509) text: message,});console.log('Message UUID:', response.messageUuid);}catch(error){console.error('Plivo Error:', error);throw error;}}
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Default rate limits vary by provider (typically 1-10 messages per second)
Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
Consider using queue systems like Redis or RabbitMQ for high-volume sending
Batch messages when possible to optimize throughput