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Myanmar SMS Guidelines: Two-way Messaging, Message Length, and Compliance

Sending SMS messages in Myanmar involves adhering to specific technical and legal guidelines to ensure effective communication and compliance with local regulations. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the SMS messaging landscape in Myanmar, focusing on two-way SMS support, number portability, message concatenation, and compliance best practices.

Two-way SMS Support

Myanmar facilitates two-way SMS communication, enabling seamless sending and receiving of messages. This feature is particularly advantageous for businesses that depend on customer interaction, such as customer support or feedback services.

Number Portability

Currently, number portability is not available in Myanmar. Users cannot retain their mobile numbers when switching between different network operators. Businesses should consider this limitation when planning long-term SMS campaigns.

Message Concatenation and Length

Myanmar supports concatenated SMS messages, allowing for longer messages by splitting them into smaller segments that are reassembled on the recipient's device. However, the behavior of message splitting and rejoining may vary depending on the sender ID type and message encoding used.

MMS Support

Traditional Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is not supported in Myanmar. Instead, MMS messages are converted to SMS with an embedded URL, allowing users to access multimedia content via a web browser.

SMS to Landline Numbers

Sending SMS to landline numbers is unsupported in Myanmar. Attempts to send SMS to a landline will result in a 400 error with code 21614, with no message logging or charges to the sender's account. It is crucial to validate phone numbers to prevent such errors.

Compliance Considerations

Adhering to local regulations is essential when sending SMS messages in Myanmar. Consulting legal counsel is strongly recommended to ensure compliance with applicable laws. Here are some best practices:

  • Obtain Opt-In Consent: Secure explicit consent from users before sending marketing or non-essential messages.
  • Respect Local Time Zones: Send messages only during the recipient's local daytime hours unless urgent.
  • Support HELP/STOP Commands: Ensure SMS campaigns accommodate user commands like HELP and STOP in the local language.
  • Do-Not-Call Registries: Avoid contacting users listed on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

By adhering to these guidelines, businesses can ensure their SMS campaigns are both effective and compliant with Myanmar's mobile messaging regulations.

For more information on compliance and regulations, visit the official Myanmar Communications Regulatory Commission website.