Frequently Asked Questions
Use an SMS API like Twilio, Sinch, or MessageBird, ensuring the recipient's number is in E.164 format (+592XXXXXXX). Remember that two-way SMS is not supported, so design your strategy around one-way communication.
The Mobile Country Code (MCC) for Guyana is 738. This code is used in conjunction with the Mobile Network Code (MNC) to identify mobile operators within Guyana for routing SMS messages.
The article does not specify the reason why two-way SMS is not supported in Guyana. Businesses should focus their SMS strategy on one-way communications such as notifications and marketing messages.
Adhere to Guyana's local time (GMT-4) and send messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Avoid sending during national holidays and reserve after-hours messaging for urgent situations.
No, sending SMS to landline numbers in Guyana is not possible. Attempts to do so will result in failed delivery with a 400 error code 21614, but you won't be charged.
Alphanumeric sender IDs and international long codes are supported. Domestic long codes and short codes have limited or no support in Guyana.
Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending marketing messages. Include terms and conditions, specify message types and frequency, and keep records of how and when consent was obtained. Although not legally required, consider offering "STOP" and "HELP" commands.
Standard SMS length limits apply: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for Unicode. Concatenated messages are supported for longer content, but availability may vary by sender ID type.
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link to the multimedia content. Ensure your content is mobile-optimized and hosted on reliable servers for a good user experience.
The Telecommunications Agency is the primary regulatory authority for telecommunications services, including SMS, in Guyana. They oversee compliance with the Telecommunications Act (Chapter 47:02).
Process opt-out requests, ideally initiated by the user sending "STOP", within 24 hours. Send a confirmation message and maintain detailed records of all opt-outs.
Restricted content includes gambling, adult content, illegal products or services, and unauthorized financial services. Regulated industries like finance and healthcare have specific compliance requirements.
Key best practices include obtaining explicit consent, respecting local time zones, using clear and concise language, personalizing content (when appropriate), and monitoring engagement metrics.
Twilio's rate limit is 250 messages per second, Sinch is 30 messages per second, and MessageBird is 60 messages per second. Implement queuing and backoff strategies for high-volume sending.
Use the E.164 format, which includes the plus sign, country code (592), and the local phone number. For example: +592XXXXXXX.
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Guyana SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Guyana SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Guyana's mobile telecommunications market is developing, with SMS remaining a crucial communication channel. The market is served by major operators including GTT Mobile and Digicel. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp are gaining popularity, SMS maintains importance for business communications and notifications due to its reliability and universal reach across all mobile devices.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Guyana
Guyana supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on one-way messaging capabilities.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Guyana. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communications only, such as notifications, alerts, and marketing messages.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenated messages are supported, though availability 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 message splitting occurring at different thresholds based on the chosen encoding.
MMS Support
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This means any multimedia content must be hosted separately and shared via a link within the SMS message. For optimal user experience, ensure your multimedia content is mobile-optimized and hosted on reliable, fast-loading servers.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Guyana. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, simplifying message routing but limiting consumer flexibility in switching providers while keeping their number.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Guyana. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and an error response (400 error code 21614). These messages will not appear in logs and accounts will not be charged for failed attempts.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Guyana
SMS communications in Guyana are governed by the Telecommunications Act (Chapter 47:02). The primary regulatory authority is the Telecommunications Agency, which oversees telecommunications services including SMS messaging. While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, businesses should follow international best practices for compliance.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
While Guyana doesn't mandate specific keywords, implementing standard opt-out commands is considered best practice:
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Guyana currently does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Guyana operates in the GMT-4 time zone. While there are no strict legal restrictions on messaging hours, follow these best practices:
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Guyana
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported
Registration requirements: Pre-registration not required, dynamic usage supported
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved and displayed as sent
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved
Provisioning time: Immediate to 24 hours
Use cases:
Short Codes
Support: Limited availability
Provisioning time: Not specified due to limited implementation
Use cases: Not commonly used in Guyana
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Content:
Regulated Industries:
Content Filtering
Known Filtering Rules:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Guyana
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Guyana
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API with comprehensive support for messaging in Guyana.
Key Parameters:
Sinch
Sinch offers reliable SMS delivery to Guyana with straightforward REST API integration.
Key Parameters:
MessageBird
MessageBird provides a developer-friendly API for sending SMS to Guyana.
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Throughput Management Strategies:
Error Handling and Reporting
Best Practices:
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities:
Technical Considerations:
Best Practices:
Next Steps
Additional Resources
Industry Guidelines: