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Laos SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Laos SMS Market Overview
Locale name:
Laos
ISO code:
LA
Region
Asia
Mobile country code (MCC)
457
Dialing Code
+856
Market Conditions: The Laos SMS market is characterized by a growing mobile subscriber base with several key operators including Unitel and TPLUS. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity, SMS remains an important channel for business communications and notifications. The market shows significant A2P SMS activity, though approximately 52% of traffic currently routes through gray channels. Android devices dominate the mobile ecosystem in Laos, with iOS having a smaller market share.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Laos
Laos supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on two-way messaging and specific requirements for sender ID registration on certain networks.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Laos through standard API providers. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communications for notifications and alerts.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenated messages are supported, though availability may vary by sender ID type. Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply - 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, 70 characters for Unicode. Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported, with message splitting occurring at different thresholds based on the chosen encoding.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Laos. When attempting to send MMS, messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. This ensures message delivery while maintaining the ability to share rich media content.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Laos. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which can simplify message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Laos. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and an error response (400 error code 21614) from the API. These messages will not appear in logs and accounts will not be charged.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Laos
While Laos doesn't have comprehensive SMS-specific regulations, businesses must follow general telecommunications guidelines overseen by the Ministry of Technology and Communications (MTC). Best practices from global SMS standards should be applied to ensure responsible 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 include:
Maintaining detailed records of how and when consent was obtained
Using clear language to explain what messages users will receive
Implementing double opt-in for marketing campaigns
Providing transparent terms and conditions at signup
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
While not strictly required by law, implementing standard opt-out keywords is strongly recommended:
Support both English and Lao language commands
Common keywords: STOP, CANCEL, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE
HELP messages should provide customer support contact information
Process opt-out requests within 24 hours
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Laos does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Maintain their own suppression lists
Honor opt-out requests immediately
Keep records of opted-out numbers
Regularly clean contact lists to remove unsubscribed users
Time Zone Sensitivity
Laos follows UTC+7 time zone. While there are no strict messaging time restrictions, recommended practices include:
Sending messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
Avoiding messages during religious holidays
Limiting late-night messages to urgent notifications only
Considering Buddhist holy days when planning campaigns
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Laos
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported with varying requirements by carrier Registration requirements: Pre-registration required for Unitel network; dynamic usage allowed on TPLUS Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are generally preserved as specified
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International: International long codes supported; domestic availability limited Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved Provisioning time: Typically 1-3 business days Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication
Short Codes
Support: Not currently supported in Laos Provisioning time: N/A Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Several content types and industries face restrictions in Laos:
Political content requires special approval
Gambling and betting services prohibited
Adult content strictly forbidden
Religious content may require review
Financial services must comply with Bank of Lao PDR regulations
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filters:
URLs from unknown domains may be blocked
Messages containing certain keywords in Lao or English may be filtered
High-volume sending patterns can trigger spam filters
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Use registered sender IDs
Avoid URL shorteners
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Keep content professional and clear
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Laos
Messaging Strategy
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
Include clear call-to-actions
Personalize messages using recipient's name
Avoid excessive punctuation and all-caps
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit to 2-3 messages per week per recipient
Respect Buddhist holidays and festivals
Avoid sending during national holidays
Space out bulk campaigns to prevent network congestion
Localization
Support both Lao and English languages
Use Unicode encoding for Lao script
Consider cultural sensitivities in message content
Test message rendering on popular local devices
Opt-Out Management
Process opt-outs within 24 hours
Maintain centralized opt-out database
Include opt-out instructions in messages
Regular audit of opt-out compliance
Testing and Monitoring
Test across major carriers (Unitel, TPLUS)
Monitor delivery rates by carrier
Track engagement metrics
Regular testing of opt-out functionality
SMS API integrations for Laos
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Laos. Integration requires an account SID and auth token for authentication.
import{ Twilio }from'twilio';// Initialize Twilio client with credentialsconst client =newTwilio( process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN);// Function to send SMS to LaosasyncfunctionsendSMSToLaos( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{// Ensure proper formatting for Laos numbers (+856)const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+856')? to :`+856${to}`;const response =await client.messages.create({ body: message, from: senderId,// Alphanumeric sender ID or Twilio number to: formattedNumber,});console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);}catch(error){console.error('Error sending message:', error);throw error;}}
Sinch
Sinch offers SMS capabilities with straightforward API integration. Authentication uses API token and service plan ID.