Afghanistan SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Afghanistan SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Afghanistan's mobile market is served by four major operators: Roshan, MTN (Areeba), Etisalat, and Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC). SMS remains a critical communication channel, particularly for business messaging and notifications, despite growing OTT messaging app usage. The market predominantly uses Android devices, with iOS having limited penetration. A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging is widely used for business communications, with strict regulations around sender ID registration and message content.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Afghanistan

Afghanistan supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations, primarily focusing on one-way messaging with mandatory sender ID registration requirements.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Afghanistan through standard A2P channels. Businesses looking to implement two-way communication should consider alternative communication methods.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenated messaging is fully supported across all major carriers.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply - 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding before splitting occurs.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported. UCS-2 is recommended for messages containing non-Latin characters or special symbols.

MMS Support

MMS messages are not directly supported in Afghanistan. When MMS content is sent, it is automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. This ensures message delivery while maintaining compatibility with local network capabilities.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability services are limited in Afghanistan. Mobile numbers generally remain tied to their original network operator, which helps ensure more reliable message routing and delivery.

Sending SMS to Landlines

SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Afghanistan. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and a 400 response error (code 21614). The message will not appear in logs, and no charges will be incurred.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's telecommunications sector is regulated by the Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA). While specific SMS marketing laws are still evolving, businesses must adhere to general telecommunications regulations and international best practices for messaging.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Written or electronic consent must be obtained before sending any marketing messages
• Maintain detailed records of how and when consent was obtained
• Clearly communicate the type and frequency of messages recipients will receive
• Provide transparent information about the sending organization

Best Practices for Consent Collection:

• Use double opt-in processes for marketing lists
• Document consent timestamps and methods
• Store consent records securely
• Regularly update and verify consent status

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard opt-out keywords:
  • STOP, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE (English)
  • ????????, ?????? (Dari)
  • ?????????? (Pashto)
• HELP/INFO commands must provide information in both English and local languages
• Responses to these commands should be free of charge for users

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

Afghanistan currently does not maintain an official Do Not Call or Do Not Disturb registry. However, businesses should:

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Implement internal do-not-contact databases
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove unengaged users

Time Zone Sensitivity

Afghanistan follows UTC+4:30 time zone. While there are no strict regulatory time restrictions, recommended sending hours are:

• Weekdays: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM AFT
• Weekends: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM AFT
• Avoid: Religious holidays and prayer times
• Emergency messages: Can be sent 24/7 if truly urgent

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Afghanistan

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Fully supported across all major networks
Registration requirements:

• Pre-registration required
• 3-week average processing time
• Business documentation needed
• Content examples must be provided

Sender ID preservation: Yes, registered IDs are preserved across all networks except MTN, which requires specific pre-registration

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes: Not supported
• International long codes: Supported with limitations

Sender ID preservation: No, international long codes may be modified by carriers Provisioning time: N/A for domestic, immediate for international Use cases: Primarily for transactional messaging and 2FA

Short Codes

Support: Not currently supported in Afghanistan Provisioning time: N/A Use cases: N/A

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Prohibited Content:

• Gambling and betting
• Adult content
• Political messaging without authorization
• Cryptocurrency promotions
• Unauthorized financial services

Regulated Industries:

• Banking: Requires additional documentation
• Healthcare: Patient privacy requirements apply
• Insurance: Must include disclaimer information

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Filters:

• URLs from unknown domains
• Multiple exclamation marks
• All-caps messages
• High-frequency identical messages

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use registered URL shorteners
• Maintain consistent sending patterns
• Avoid spam trigger words
• Include clear business identifier

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Afghanistan

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-action
• Use approved sender IDs consistently
• Maintain professional tone

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 4-5 messages per month per user
• Respect prayer times and religious observances
• Avoid sending during major holidays
• Space out bulk campaigns

Localization

• Support for Dari and Pashto required
• Consider bilingual messages for important communications
• Use appropriate character encoding for local languages
• Test rendering on popular local devices

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Maintain centralized opt-out database
• Confirm opt-out with one final message
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across all major carriers (Roshan, MTN, Etisalat, AWCC)
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track opt-out rates and patterns
• Regular content and compliance audits

SMS API Integrations for Afghanistan

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API with specific support for Afghanistan's messaging requirements.

Key Parameters:

• alphanumericSenderId: Must be pre-registered
• to: Phone numbers must be in E.164 format (+93)
• body: Supports both Latin and local character sets

import { Twilio } from 'twilio';

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

async function sendSMSToAfghanistan() {
  try {
    // Send message with registered sender ID
    const message = await client.messages.create({
      body: 'Your verification code is: 123456', // Message content
      from: 'YourBrand', // Pre-registered sender ID
      to: '+93XXXXXXXXXX', // Afghanistan number in E.164 format
      // Optional parameters for delivery tracking
      statusCallback: 'https://yourwebhook.com/status'
    });
    
    console.log(`Message sent successfully: ${message.sid}`);
    return message;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for Afghanistan with support for both transactional and promotional messages.

import { SinchClient } from '@sinch/sdk-core';

// Initialize Sinch client
const sinchClient = new SinchClient({
  projectId: 'YOUR_PROJECT_ID',
  apiToken: 'YOUR_API_TOKEN'
});

async function sendSinchSMS() {
  try {
    const response = await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({
      from: 'CompanyName', // Registered sender ID
      to: ['+93XXXXXXXXXX'],
      body: 'Your message here',
      // Optional delivery report settings
      deliveryReport: 'summary'
    });

    console.log('Batch ID:', response.id);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides specific features for handling Afghanistan's SMS requirements and regulations.

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

// Initialize MessageBird client
const messagebird = new MessageBird('YOUR_ACCESS_KEY');

async function sendMessageBirdSMS() {
  const params = {
    originator: 'YourBrand', // Pre-registered sender ID
    recipients: ['+93XXXXXXXXXX'],
    body: 'Your message content',
    // Optional parameters
    reportUrl: 'https://your-webhook.com/delivery-reports'
  };

  try {
    const response = await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      messagebird.messages.create(params, (err, response) => {
        if (err) reject(err);
        else resolve(response);
      });
    });

    console.log('Message sent:', response);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('MessageBird Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Plivo

Plivo offers reliable SMS delivery to Afghanistan with support for local language content.

import { Client } from 'plivo';

// Initialize Plivo client
const client = new Client(
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID,
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN
);

async function sendPlivoSMS() {
  try {
    const response = await client.messages.create({
      src: 'REGISTERED_NAME', // Your registered sender ID
      dst: '+93XXXXXXXXXX', // Destination number
      text: 'Your message here',
      // Optional parameters
      url: 'https://your-webhook.com/delivery-status'
    });

    console.log('Message UUID:', response.messageUuid);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Plivo Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

Rate Limits by Provider:

• Twilio: 100 messages/second
• Sinch: 50 messages/second
• MessageBird: 60 messages/second
• Plivo: 80 messages/second

Throughput Management Strategies:

• Implement queuing systems for large volumes
• Use batch APIs when available
• Schedule messages across peak/off-peak hours
• Monitor delivery rates and adjust sending speed

Error Handling and Reporting

Common Error Scenarios:

• Invalid sender ID
• Network congestion
• Invalid phone number format
• Content filtering triggers

Best Practices:

• Implement retry logic with exponential backoff
• Log all API responses and delivery receipts
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Set up automated alerts for error thresholds

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

1. Always use pre-registered sender IDs
2. Implement proper opt-out handling
3. Respect local time zones and cultural considerations
4. Monitor delivery rates and engagement

Next Steps:

1. Register sender IDs with chosen provider
2. Set up delivery reporting systems
3. Implement proper error handling
4. Test with small volumes before scaling

Additional Resources:

• Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA)
• Afghanistan Consumer Protection Directorate
• SMS Best Practices Guide

Provider-Specific Documentation:

• Twilio Afghanistan Guidelines
• Sinch Country Specific Features
• MessageBird API Documentation
• Plivo SMS API Guide