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SMS Guidelines for Mauritania: Compliance, Message Handling, and Technical Specifications

Mauritania, situated in the Middle East & Africa region, has specific guidelines and technical considerations for sending SMS messages. This article covers the essential aspects of SMS communication in Mauritania, including compliance requirements, message handling, and technical specifications.

Key Locale Information

Mauritania is identified by the ISO code MR and has a mobile country code of 609. The dialing code for Mauritania is +222, which is essential when sending SMS messages to this region. However, there are important limitations to be aware of, such as the lack of two-way SMS support and number portability.

Two-Way SMS and Number Portability

In Mauritania, two-way SMS is not supported. This means that while you can send SMS messages to mobile users, they will not be able to reply directly via SMS. Additionally, number portability is not available, so users cannot retain their mobile number when switching between service providers.

Concatenated SMS Support

Mauritania does support concatenated SMS messages. Concatenation allows long messages to be split into smaller segments and reassembled on the recipient's device. However, note that support for this feature may vary depending on the type of sender ID used and the character encoding of the message.

MMS Support

Mauritania does not natively support Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Instead, MMS messages are converted to SMS with an embedded URL that recipients can click to view the multimedia content.

Sending SMS to Landline Numbers

It is important to note that sending SMS messages to landline numbers in Mauritania is not supported. If you attempt to send an SMS to a landline number, the Sent REST API will return a 400 error with error code 21614, and the message will not be delivered or logged. Furthermore, your account will not be charged for the failed message.

Compliance Considerations

When sending SMS messages in Mauritania, compliance with local laws is crucial. Sent strongly encourages customers to review their use cases with legal counsel to ensure they adhere to all applicable regulations. Here are some general best practices for compliance:

  • Opt-in Consent: Always obtain explicit opt-in consent from users before sending them any communication, especially for marketing or non-essential messages.
  • Daytime Communication: Try to send messages during the recipient's daytime hours unless the message is urgent.
  • Support for HELP/STOP Commands: Ensure your SMS campaigns support HELP/STOP commands in the local language of the end user.
  • Respect Do-Not-Call Registries: Avoid contacting users who are on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your SMS campaigns in Mauritania are both effective and compliant with local regulations.

For more information on international SMS guidelines, you can visit the International Telecommunication Union website for official resources and updates.