Frequently Asked Questions
Use a reputable SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, or MessageBird, ensuring you use an alphanumeric sender ID and comply with local regulations. Iraq supports one-way SMS and concatenated messages, but not two-way messaging or direct MMS. Remember to handle Arabic encoding with UTF-8 or UCS-2.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are recommended for Iraq. They allow up to 11 characters representing your brand and are fully supported across major networks. International long codes are supported but not recommended, while domestic long codes and short codes are not available.
MMS is not directly supported; however, when MMS content is sent, it's converted to an SMS with a URL link to the media. This workaround allows recipients to access rich media content while ensuring message delivery via the more universally supported SMS.
Standard SMS length limits apply: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for UCS-2. Messages with Arabic or special characters use UCS-2, effectively reducing the characters per segment. Concatenation is supported for longer messages.
Adhere to Arabia Standard Time (AST/UTC+3) and send messages between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time. Avoid sending during prayer times or religious holidays, especially Ramadan. Limit messages to 3-4 per week per recipient, primarily during business days (Sunday-Thursday).
No, sending SMS to landlines in Iraq is not possible. Attempts result in delivery failure with a 400 response error (code 21614). These messages aren't logged, and accounts aren't charged.
Obtain explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages, honor opt-out requests (STOP, CANCEL, END, UNSUBSCRIBE) within 24 hours, and respect time zone restrictions. While Iraq doesn't have a Do Not Call registry, maintain your own opt-out list.
Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent, including your business name and purpose. Double opt-in verification is recommended. Maintain records of consent with timestamps and source, and provide clear terms and conditions.
Avoid gambling, adult content, unauthorized political or religious content, and cryptocurrency promotions. Content filtering exists for certain Arabic and English keywords, suspicious URLs, and high-frequency messaging.
Initialize the Twilio client with your Account SID and Auth Token. Use the client's messages.create method, providing the message body, your alphanumeric sender ID, and the recipient's Iraq number in +964 format.
Use UTF-8 or UCS-2 encoding for Arabic text. SMS providers like Sinch offer 'AUTO' encoding, automatically handling Arabic. Ensure your chosen API supports Unicode to prevent character corruption.
Twilio's rate limit is 250 messages per second, Sinch allows 100 per second, and MessageBird 60 per second. Manage throughput by using batch APIs, queuing messages during peak times, and using exponential backoff for retries.
Common errors include invalid sender ID format, network connectivity issues, exceeding rate limits, and invalid recipient numbers. Implement proper error handling, including retries with exponential backoff and logging of persistent failures.
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Iraq SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Iraq SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Iraq's mobile market is dominated by three major operators: Zain, AsiaCell, and Korek. SMS remains a crucial communication channel for businesses and organizations, particularly for notifications and authentication. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are popular among consumers, SMS maintains its importance for business communications due to its reliability and universal reach. Android devices hold a significant market share in Iraq, making SMS an effective channel for reaching a broad audience.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Iraq
Iraq supports one-way SMS messaging with concatenation capabilities, though certain features like two-way messaging and MMS are limited or unavailable.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Iraq. Messages can only be sent one-way from businesses to consumers, limiting interactive messaging capabilities.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenation is supported, though availability may vary by sender ID type.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply - 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported. Messages using Arabic or special characters will automatically use UCS-2 encoding, reducing the character limit per segment.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Iraq. 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 providing access to rich media content.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Iraq. Mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operators, which helps ensure reliable message routing.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Iraq. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in delivery failure with a 400 response error (code 21614). These messages will not appear in logs and accounts will not be charged.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Iraq
SMS communications in Iraq are regulated by the Communications and Media Commission (CMC). While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, businesses must follow general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices for messaging.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
Best Practices for Consent Collection:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Iraq does not currently maintain a centralized Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Iraq follows Arabia Standard Time (AST/UTC+3). Best practices include:
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Iraq
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Fully supported across major networks
Registration requirements: Pre-registration not required, but recommended
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved when properly formatted
Additional Considerations:
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Sender ID preservation: No, international numbers may be converted to local format
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: Not recommended for primary messaging; use alphanumeric sender IDs instead
Short Codes
Support: Not currently available in Iraq
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Content Types:
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filters:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Iraq
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Iraq
Twilio
Twilio provides robust SMS capabilities for sending messages to Iraq through their REST API.
Key Integration Points:
Sinch
Sinch offers direct operator connections in Iraq with support for alphanumeric sender IDs.
Key Integration Points:
MessageBird
MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Iraq with comprehensive delivery reporting.
Key Integration Points:
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Rate Limits:
Throughput Management Strategies:
Error Handling and Reporting
Common Error Scenarios:
Best Practices:
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities:
Technical Considerations:
Best Practices:
Next Steps
Additional Resources