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Sudan SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Sudan SMS Market Overview
Locale name:
Sudan
ISO code:
SD
Region
Middle East & Africa
Mobile country code (MCC)
634
Dialing Code
+249
Market Conditions: Sudan's SMS market is characterized by international traffic support while local traffic remains restricted. The mobile landscape is dominated by key operators like MTN Sudan and Sudani One. SMS remains a crucial communication channel, particularly for business messaging, though OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity. The market primarily serves A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging needs, with P2P (Person-to-Person) traffic being prohibited.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Sudan
Sudan offers a structured SMS environment with support for international traffic, concatenated messaging, and alphanumeric sender IDs, though with specific restrictions on two-way messaging and P2P communications.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Sudan. The market is primarily focused on one-way messaging, particularly for business and application-to-person communications.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenation is supported, though availability may vary based on sender ID type. Message length rules: Standard SMS character limits apply before message splitting occurs. Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding are supported, with UCS-2 available for alphanumeric sender IDs.
MMS Support
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This conversion ensures message delivery while maintaining rich media accessibility through web links.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Sudan. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operators.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Sudan. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614) through REST APIs, with no message logging or charges applied.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Sudan
Sudan's SMS regulations focus primarily on content restrictions and sender ID requirements. While there isn't a comprehensive telecom regulatory framework specifically for SMS marketing, businesses must adhere to general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices for messaging.
Consent and Opt-In
While Sudan doesn't have explicit opt-in requirements codified in law, following international best practices for consent is strongly recommended:
Obtain clear, explicit consent before sending any marketing messages
Document and maintain records of how and when consent was obtained
Clearly communicate the type and frequency of messages recipients will receive
Provide transparent information about how personal data will be used
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
While not legally mandated, implementing standard opt-out mechanisms is considered best practice:
Support universal STOP commands for immediate opt-out
Implement HELP commands to provide assistance
Consider supporting both English and Arabic keywords for broader accessibility
Process opt-out requests promptly to maintain compliance
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Sudan does not maintain an official Do Not Disturb (DND) registry. However, businesses should:
Maintain their own suppression lists of opted-out numbers
Honor opt-out requests immediately
Implement systems to track and manage opt-outs across campaigns
Regularly clean and update contact lists
Time Zone Sensitivity
While Sudan doesn't have specific time restrictions for SMS messaging, consider these best practices:
Send messages between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM local time (UTC+2)
Avoid sending during prayer times and religious holidays
Reserve late-night messaging for urgent communications only
Consider Ramadan timing adjustments when applicable
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Sudan
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported with pre-registration required Registration requirements: Pre-registration mandatory, particularly for MTN Sudan network. Dynamic usage is not supported. Sender ID preservation: Yes, registered sender IDs are preserved and displayed as-is to recipients. Provisioning time: Approximately 3 weeks for registration approval
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International: International long codes supported; domestic long codes not available Sender ID preservation: No, original sender IDs are not preserved for international long codes Provisioning time: N/A for domestic, immediate for international Use cases: Suitable for transactional messaging and two-factor authentication
Short Codes
Support: Not currently available in Sudan Provisioning time: N/A Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Sudan maintains strict content restrictions for SMS messaging:
Prohibited Content: Adult content, gambling, religious material, political messages
Restricted Industries: Financial services and healthcare require additional verification
P2P Traffic: Person-to-person traffic is prohibited and will be blocked
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filtering Rules:
Generic sender IDs (e.g., InfoSMS, INFO, Verify) are often blocked
P2P traffic is automatically filtered
Content containing restricted keywords may be blocked
Tips to Avoid Blocking:
Use registered, brand-specific sender IDs
Avoid generic terms in sender IDs
Keep content professional and business-focused
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Sudan
Messaging Strategy
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
Include clear call-to-actions
Use a consistent sender ID across campaigns
Avoid URL shorteners that might trigger spam filters
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit messages to 2-3 per week per recipient
Respect religious and cultural observances
Maintain consistent sending patterns
Avoid sending during major holidays
Localization
Support both Arabic and English content
Consider right-to-left text formatting for Arabic messages
Use local date and time formats
Include country code (+249) in all numbers
Opt-Out Management
Process opt-outs within 24 hours
Maintain centralized opt-out databases
Include opt-out instructions in messages
Regular audit of opt-out lists
Testing and Monitoring
Test messages across major carriers (MTN Sudan, Sudani One)
Monitor delivery rates by carrier
Track opt-out rates and patterns
Regular testing of opt-out functionality
SMS API integrations for Sudan
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API that supports messaging to Sudan. Integration requires your Account SID and Auth Token from the Twilio Console.
import{ Twilio }from'twilio';// Initialize the client with your credentialsconst client =newTwilio( process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN);// Function to send SMS to SudanasyncfunctionsendSMSToSudan( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{// Ensure proper formatting for Sudan numbers (+249)const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+249')? to :`+249${to}`;const response =await client.messages.create({ body: message, from: senderId,// Must be pre-registered alphanumeric sender ID to: formattedNumber,});console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);}catch(error){console.error('Error sending message:', error);throw error;}}
Sinch
Sinch offers direct operator connections in Sudan. Their API requires project ID and API token authentication.
import{ SinchClient }from'@sinch/sdk-core';// Initialize Sinch clientconst sinchClient =newSinchClient({ projectId: process.env.SINCH_PROJECT_ID, apiToken: process.env.SINCH_API_TOKEN});// Function to send SMS using SinchasyncfunctionsendSinchSMS( recipients:string[], message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{const response =await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({ sendSMSRequestBody:{ to: recipients.map(num => num.startsWith('+249')? num :`+249${num}`), from: senderId, body: message, delivery_report:'summary'// Enable delivery reporting}});console.log('Batch ID:', response.id);}catch(error){console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);throw error;}}
MessageBird
MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Sudan with comprehensive delivery reporting.
import messagebird from'messagebird';// Initialize MessageBird clientconst mbClient =messagebird(process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_API_KEY);// Function to send SMS via MessageBirdfunctionsendMessageBirdSMS( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<any>{returnnewPromise((resolve, reject)=>{const params ={ originator: senderId, recipients:[to.startsWith('+249')? to :`+249${to}`], body: message, reportUrl: process.env.DELIVERY_REPORT_WEBHOOK_URL}; mbClient.messages.create(params,(err, response)=>{if(err){reject(err);return;}resolve(response);});});}
Plivo
Plivo offers SMS capabilities for Sudan with support for alphanumeric sender IDs.
import plivo from'plivo';// Initialize Plivo clientconst plivoClient =newplivo.Client( process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID, process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN);// Function to send SMS via PlivoasyncfunctionsendPlivoSMS( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{const response =await plivoClient.messages.create({ src: senderId, dst: to.startsWith('+249')? to :`+249${to}`, text: message, url: process.env.DELIVERY_STATUS_URL// Webhook for delivery status});console.log('Message UUID:', response.messageUuid);}catch(error){console.error('Plivo Error:', error);throw error;}}
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Default rate limits vary by provider (typically 1-10 messages per second)
Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
Consider using queue systems like Redis or RabbitMQ for high-volume sending
Batch messages where possible to optimize throughput
Error Handling and Reporting
Implement comprehensive error logging
Monitor delivery receipts via webhooks
Track common error codes:
Invalid sender ID
Network rejection
Invalid number format
Store message metadata for troubleshooting
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities
Pre-register alphanumeric sender IDs
Respect content restrictions
Maintain opt-out lists
Technical Considerations
Proper number formatting (+249)
Delivery receipt monitoring
Rate limit management
Best Practices
Test thoroughly before large campaigns
Implement proper error handling
Monitor delivery rates
Next Steps
Review the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) guidelines