Palau SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Palau SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Palau has a developing mobile telecommunications market with growing SMS adoption. While specific market share data is limited, SMS remains an important communication channel for businesses and consumers. The market primarily relies on basic SMS functionality, with OTT messaging apps gaining popularity among smartphone users.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Palau

Palau supports standard SMS messaging capabilities with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on basic message delivery functionality.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Palau according to current provider capabilities. This means businesses can send outbound messages, but cannot receive replies through the same channels.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenated messaging is supported in Palau, though support 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 encoding are supported, with messages being split and rejoined based on the encoding used.

MMS Support

MMS messages are not directly supported in Palau. Instead, MMS content is automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. This ensures compatibility while still allowing rich media sharing.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Palau. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which helps ensure more reliable message routing.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Palau. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614) from the messaging API, and these messages will not be delivered or charged to your account.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Palau

While Palau does not have specific SMS marketing legislation, businesses should follow international best practices and general telecommunications guidelines. The Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC) oversees telecommunications services in the country.

Consent and Opt-In

Best Practices for Obtaining Consent:

• Collect explicit opt-in consent before sending any marketing messages
• Maintain clear records of how and when consent was obtained
• Provide clear terms and conditions at the point of opt-in
• Include information about message frequency and content type
• Document the opt-in source and timestamp for compliance purposes

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

While not legally mandated, implementing standard opt-out keywords is strongly recommended:

• Support universal STOP commands for immediate opt-out
• Implement HELP keyword responses with service information
• Consider supporting both English and Palauan language commands
• Acknowledge opt-out requests with a confirmation message

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

Palau 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 immediately and permanently
• Implement a system to track and manage unsubscribe requests
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove inactive or opted-out numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

Palau operates in UTC+9 (PWT - Palau Time). Best practices include:

• Sending messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM PWT
• Avoiding messages during major local holidays
• Limiting emergency messages outside of business hours
• Considering cultural and religious observances

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Palau

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Supported
Registration requirements: No pre-registration required, dynamic usage allowed
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved and displayed as sent

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 for international long codes
Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication

Short Codes

Support: Not currently available in Palau
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Restricted Content Types:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or explicit material
• Unauthorized financial services
• Deceptive marketing practices

Content Filtering

Known Filtering Rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs should be from reputable domains
• Avoid excessive capitalization and special characters

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use clear, professional language
• Avoid spam trigger words
• Include company name in messages
• Maintain consistent sending patterns

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Palau

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-actions
• Use personalization thoughtfully
• Maintain consistent brand voice

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 2-4 messages per month per recipient
• Respect local business hours
• Consider cultural events and holidays
• Space out messages appropriately

Localization

• Support both English and Palauan languages
• Consider cultural context in message content
• Use appropriate date and time formats
• Respect local customs and sensitivities

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Maintain accurate opt-out records
• Provide clear opt-out instructions
• Confirm opt-out requests promptly

Testing and Monitoring

• Test messages across major local carriers
• Monitor delivery rates regularly
• Track engagement metrics
• Analyze opt-out patterns
• Conduct regular content audits

SMS API integrations for Palau

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Palau. Integration requires your Account SID and Auth Token for authentication.

import * as Twilio from 'twilio';

// Initialize client with your credentials
const client = new Twilio(process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN);

// Function to validate E.164 format for Palau numbers
const validatePalauNumber = (phoneNumber: string): boolean => {
  return /^\+680[0-9]{7}$/.test(phoneNumber);
};

async function sendSMSToPalau(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  from: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    // Validate phone number format
    if (!validatePalauNumber(to)) {
      throw new Error('Invalid Palau phone number format');
    }

    // Send message
    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      to: to,    // Must be in E.164 format: +680XXXXXXX
      from: from // Your Twilio number or alphanumeric sender ID
    });

    console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers SMS capabilities for Palau through their REST API. Authentication uses your API token.

import axios from 'axios';

class SinchSMSService {
  private readonly apiToken: string;
  private readonly baseUrl: string = 'https://sms.api.sinch.com/xms/v1';

  constructor(apiToken: string) {
    this.apiToken = apiToken;
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string, from: string): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const response = await axios.post(
        `${this.baseUrl}/batches`,
        {
          from: from,
          to: [to],
          body: message
        },
        {
          headers: {
            'Authorization': `Bearer ${this.apiToken}`,
            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
          }
        }
      );

      console.log('Message sent successfully:', response.data);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Failed to send message:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird (referred to as "Bird" in the template) provides SMS capabilities for Palau through their REST API.

import messagebird from 'messagebird';

class MessageBirdService {
  private client: any;

  constructor(apiKey: string) {
    this.client = messagebird(apiKey);
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string, from: string): Promise<void> {
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      this.client.messages.create({
        originator: from,
        recipients: [to],
        body: message
      }, (err: any, response: any) => {
        if (err) {
          console.error('MessageBird error:', err);
          reject(err);
        } else {
          console.log('Message sent successfully:', response);
          resolve(response);
        }
      });
    });
  }
}

Plivo

Plivo offers SMS integration for Palau with REST API support.

import plivo from 'plivo';

class PlivoSMSService {
  private client: any;

  constructor(authId: string, authToken: string) {
    this.client = new plivo.Client(authId, authToken);
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string, from: string): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const response = await this.client.messages.create({
        src: from,  // Your Plivo number
        dst: to,    // Destination number in E.164 format
        text: message
      });

      console.log('Message sent successfully:', response);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Failed to send message:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Default rate limit: 100 messages per second
• Batch processing recommended for large volumes
• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
• Queue messages during peak times

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive error logging
• Monitor delivery receipts
• Track common error codes:
  • 21614: Invalid landline number
  • 21408: Invalid number format
  • 21611: Unroutable destination

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Always use E.164 format for phone numbers (+680XXXXXXX)
• Implement proper error handling and retry logic
• Follow best practices for consent and opt-out management
• Respect local time zones and sending hours

Next Steps:

1. Review the Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC) guidelines
2. Implement proper opt-in/opt-out mechanisms
3. Test message delivery with multiple carriers
4. Set up monitoring and reporting systems

Additional Information:

• PNCC Official Website
• Palau Telecommunications Regulations
• International SMS Best Practices Guide

Technical Resources:

• Twilio API Documentation
• Sinch Developer Portal
• MessageBird API Guide
• Plivo API Reference