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Samoa SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Samoa SMS Market Overview
Locale name:
Samoa
ISO code:
WS
Region
Oceania
Mobile country code (MCC)
549
Dialing Code
+685
Market Conditions: Samoa has a growing mobile market with increasing SMS adoption for both personal and business communications. The primary mobile operators include Digicel Samoa and Vodafone Samoa (formerly Bluesky). While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are gaining popularity, particularly in urban areas, SMS remains a reliable communication channel due to its universal reach and network stability. Android devices dominate the mobile market, though iOS usage is present among urban professionals and tourists.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Samoa
Samoa offers basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, making it important to understand the specific capabilities and restrictions when planning your messaging strategy.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Samoa according to current network capabilities. This means businesses should design their messaging strategies around one-way communications and provide alternative channels for customer responses when needed.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Concatenated messaging is not supported in Samoa. Message length rules: Due to the lack of concatenation support, you should keep messages within the standard SMS length limits. Encoding considerations: It's recommended to use GSM-7 encoding to maximize character count and ensure broad compatibility.
MMS Support
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This means that if you attempt to send multimedia content, recipients will receive a text message containing a link to view the content online. For optimal delivery and user experience, consider hosting images or media on a mobile-friendly webpage and sharing the link within your SMS message.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Samoa. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which can simplify message routing but requires customers to change numbers if they switch providers.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Samoa. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and a 400 response with error code 21614. The message will not appear in logs, and your account will not be charged.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Samoa
SMS communications in Samoa are regulated by the Office of the Regulator under the Telecommunications Act 2005. The Office of the Regulator oversees telecommunications services and maintains the National Numbering Plan, which provides the framework for number management and allocation.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending any marketing messages
Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
Include your business name and purpose in the initial opt-in request
Provide clear terms and conditions regarding message frequency and content
Best Practices for Documentation:
Store consent records with timestamp and source
Keep opt-in confirmation messages for audit purposes
Regularly update and clean your consent database
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
While Samoa doesn't have specific regulatory requirements for HELP/STOP commands, implementing these features is considered best practice:
Support standard commands: STOP, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, HELP
Include both English and Samoan language options
Process opt-out requests within 24 hours
Send confirmation messages for both HELP and STOP requests
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Samoa currently does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Maintain their own suppression lists
Honor opt-out requests immediately
Document all opt-out requests with timestamps
Regularly clean contact lists to remove unsubscribed numbers
Time Zone Sensitivity
Samoa observes UTC+13 (WST - West Samoa Time). While there are no strict regulations regarding messaging hours:
Recommended Messaging Window: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM WST
Emergency Messages: Can be sent outside standard hours if urgent
Cultural Considerations: Avoid sending during Sunday church hours (typically 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Samoa
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported for dynamic usage Registration requirements: No pre-registration required Sender ID preservation: Sender IDs are generally preserved as sent
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Domestic long codes are not supported
International long codes are available with some restrictions
Sender ID preservation: Original sender IDs are typically maintained Provisioning time: 1-2 business days for international long codes Use cases: Recommended for transactional messages and customer support
Short Codes
Support: Short codes are not currently supported in Samoa Provisioning time: Not applicable Use cases: Not available for marketing or authentication purposes
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Industries and Content:
Gambling and betting services
Adult content or services
Unauthorized financial services
Political messaging without proper authorization
Cryptocurrency promotions
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filtering Rules:
Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
URLs from unknown domains may trigger spam filters
Multiple identical messages sent rapidly may be filtered
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Use approved URL shorteners
Avoid excessive punctuation and all-caps text
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Include clear business identification in messages
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Samoa
Messaging Strategy
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
Include clear call-to-actions
Use personalization thoughtfully (e.g., recipient's name)
Maintain consistent branding across messages
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per month
Respect local holidays and cultural events
Avoid sending during church hours on Sundays
Space out messages to prevent recipient fatigue
Localization
Support both English and Samoan languages
Consider cultural context in message content
Use appropriate date and time formats
Respect local customs and traditions
Opt-Out Management
Process opt-outs within 24 hours
Send confirmation of opt-out requests
Maintain accurate suppression lists
Regular audit of opt-out compliance
Testing and Monitoring
Test messages across both major carriers
Monitor delivery rates by carrier
Track engagement metrics
Regular testing of opt-out functionality
SMS API integrations for Samoa
Twilio
Twilio provides a straightforward way to send SMS messages to Samoa using their REST API. Here's how to implement it:
import{ Twilio }from'twilio';// Initialize Twilio client with your credentialsconst client =newTwilio( process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,// Your Twilio Account SID process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN// Your Twilio Auth Token);// Function to send SMS to SamoaasyncfunctionsendSMSToSamoa( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{// Ensure proper formatting for Samoa numbers (+685)const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+685')? to :`+685${to}`;const response =await client.messages.create({ body: message, from: senderId,// Your approved sender ID to: formattedNumber,// Optional parameters for delivery tracking statusCallback:'https://your-webhook.com/status'});console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);}catch(error){console.error('Error sending message:', error);throw error;}}
Sinch
Sinch offers robust SMS capabilities for Samoa through their REST API:
import{ SinchClient }from'@sinch/sdk-core';// Initialize Sinch clientconst sinchClient =newSinchClient({ projectId: process.env.SINCH_PROJECT_ID, apiToken: process.env.SINCH_API_TOKEN});// Function to send SMS via SinchasyncfunctionsendSinchSMS( recipientNumber:string, messageText:string):Promise<void>{try{const response =await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({ sendSMSRequestBody:{ to:[recipientNumber],// Must include +685 prefix from:'YourCompany',// Your approved sender ID body: messageText,// Optional delivery report URL deliveryReport:'URL'}});console.log('Message sent:', response.id);}catch(error){console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);throw error;}}
MessageBird
MessageBird provides a reliable API for sending SMS to Samoa:
import{ MessageBird }from'messagebird';// Initialize MessageBird clientconst messagebird =MessageBird(process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_API_KEY);// Function to send SMS via MessageBirdasyncfunctionsendMessageBirdSMS( to:string, message:string, originator:string):Promise<void>{const params ={ originator: originator,// Your sender ID recipients:[to],// Must include +685 prefix body: message,// Optional parameters reportUrl:'https://your-webhook.com/status'};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's API offers SMS capabilities for reaching Samoan numbers:
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,// Destination number with +685 prefix text: message,// Optional parameters url:'https://your-webhook.com/status'});console.log('Message sent:', response.messageUuid);}catch(error){console.error('Plivo Error:', error);throw error;}}
API Rate Limits and Throughput
When sending SMS to Samoa, consider these limitations:
Rate Limits:
Maximum 30 messages per second per sender ID
Daily quota varies by provider and plan
Throughput Management:
Implement exponential backoff for retries
Use queuing systems (e.g., Redis, RabbitMQ) for high volume
Batch messages when possible while respecting rate limits