Ivory Coast SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Ivory Coast SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Ivory Coast has a vibrant mobile market dominated by three major operators: Orange (07), MTN (05), and Moov/Etisalat (01). The country recently underwent a significant numbering scheme update in 2021, transitioning from 8 to 10-digit phone numbers to accommodate growing mobile adoption. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity in urban areas, SMS remains a critical communication channel, particularly for business-to-consumer communications and authentication services.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast supports most standard SMS features including concatenated messaging and alphanumeric sender IDs, though two-way SMS functionality is not currently available.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Ivory Coast at this time. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communication flows.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenation is supported for messages exceeding standard length limits, though support may vary by sender ID type.

Message length rules: Messages are split according to standard SMS character limits:

• 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding
• 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding

Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding are supported. UCS-2 is required for messages containing special characters or non-Latin alphabets.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link to access the multimedia content. This ensures compatibility across all devices while still enabling rich media sharing capabilities.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Ivory Coast. Mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operators, making it easier to ensure accurate message routing.

Sending SMS to Landlines

SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Ivory Coast. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614) through the REST API, with no message delivery and no charges applied to the account.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Ivory Coast

SMS communications in Ivory Coast are regulated by the Autorit?? de R??gulation des T??l??communications/TIC de C??te d'Ivoire (ARTCI). While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, businesses must comply with general telecommunications guidelines and data privacy requirements.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Written or electronic consent must be obtained before sending marketing messages
• Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
• Clearly communicate the purpose and frequency of messages during opt-in

Best Practices for Consent Collection:

• Use double opt-in processes for marketing lists
• Provide clear terms and conditions during signup
• Document consent timestamp, source, and scope
• Enable easy opt-out methods at signup

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard STOP commands
• HELP and STOP keywords should be recognized in both French and English
• Common French keywords include: ARRETER, STOP, DESABONNER
• Responses to HELP/STOP commands should be immediate and free of charge

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

While Ivory Coast does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry, businesses should:

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Keep records of opted-out numbers for at least 12 months
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove unsubscribed numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

Time Restrictions:

• Avoid sending messages between 10 PM and 6 AM local time
• Limit messages to 3 per subscriber per day
• Exception: Emergency or requested messages may be sent outside these hours

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Ivory Coast

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Fully supported across all major networks
Registration requirements: Pre-registration required; no dynamic usage allowed
Sender ID preservation: Yes, registered IDs are preserved across networks
Provisioning time: Approximately 3 weeks for registration approval

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes: Supported but not available through international providers
• International long codes: Supported with limitations on MTN network

Sender ID preservation: No, international long codes may be modified by carriers
Use cases: Recommended for transactional messages and 2FA

Short Codes

Support: Available through major carriers
Provisioning time: 8-12 weeks for approval and setup
Use cases: Ideal for:

• High-volume marketing campaigns
• Two-factor authentication
• Customer service interactions

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Restricted Industries:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or services
• Cryptocurrency promotions
• Political messaging without proper authorization

Content Filtering

Carrier Filtering Rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs should be from approved domains
• Message content should be in French or English

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Avoid excessive punctuation
• Don't use all caps
• Limit URL usage in marketing messages
• Keep content clear and professional

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Ivory Coast

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-actions
• Personalize messages using subscriber name or relevant details
• Maintain consistent sender ID across campaigns

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Maximum 3 messages per day per subscriber
• Respect religious holidays and Sundays
• Peak engagement hours: 9 AM - 6 PM local time
• Space out campaign messages to avoid overwhelming recipients

Localization

• Primary language: French
• Consider bilingual messages for important communications
• Use local date and time formats
• Respect cultural sensitivities in content

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Send confirmation of successful opt-out
• Maintain unified opt-out lists across campaigns
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across all three major carriers (Orange, MTN, Moov)
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics and opt-out rates
• Regular testing of HELP/STOP functionality

SMS API integrations for Ivory Coast

Twilio

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

Authentication and Setup:

• Account SID and Auth Token required
• Pre-registered alphanumeric sender IDs recommended
• E.164 number format mandatory (+225)

import { Twilio } from 'twilio';

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

// Function to send SMS to Ivory Coast
async function sendSMSToIvoryCoast(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
) {
  try {
    // Validate phone number format
    if (!to.startsWith('+225')) {
      throw new Error('Invalid Ivory Coast phone number format');
    }

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      from: senderId, // Pre-registered alphanumeric sender ID
      to: to,
      // Optional parameters for delivery tracking
      statusCallback: 'https://your-callback-url.com/status'
    });

    console.log(`Message sent successfully: ${response.sid}`);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers direct carrier connections in Ivory Coast with support for high-volume messaging.

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

// Initialize Sinch client
const sinchClient = new SinchClient({
  apiKey: process.env.SINCH_API_KEY,
  apiSecret: process.env.SINCH_API_SECRET
});

async function sendBatchSMS(
  recipients: string[],
  message: string
) {
  try {
    const batch = await sinchClient.sms.batches.create({
      from: 'YOUR_SENDER_ID',
      to: recipients.map(num => num.startsWith('+225') ? num : `+225${num}`),
      body: message,
      // Delivery report configuration
      deliveryReport: 'summary'
    });

    return batch;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Batch sending failed:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

MessageBird (Bird)

MessageBird provides specific features for the Ivory Coast market including delivery optimization.

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

// Initialize MessageBird client
const messagebird = new MessageBird(process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_API_KEY);

interface SMSResponse {
  id: string;
  status: string;
  recipients: {
    total: number;
    delivered: number;
  };
}

async function sendMessageBirdSMS(
  recipient: string,
  message: string
): Promise<SMSResponse&gt; {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) =&gt; {
    messagebird.messages.create({
      originator: 'YOUR_SENDER_ID',
      recipients: [recipient],
      body: message,
      // Ivory Coast specific parameters
      datacoding: 'auto', // Handles special characters
      type: 'premium' // For guaranteed delivery
    }, (err, response) =&gt; {
      if (err) {
        reject(err);
        return;
      }
      resolve(response);
    });
  });
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

Rate Limits by Provider:

• Twilio: 100 messages/second
• Sinch: 250 messages/second
• MessageBird: 150 messages/second

Throughput Management Strategies:

// Example rate limiting implementation
import { RateLimiter } from 'limiter';

const limiter = new RateLimiter({
  tokensPerInterval: 100,
  interval: 'second'
});

async function sendBulkSMS(messages: Array<{to: string_ body: string}>) {
  const results = [];
  
  for (const msg of messages) {
    await limiter.removeTokens(1);
    try {
      const result = await sendSMSToIvoryCoast(msg.to, msg.body);
      results.push(result);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Failed to send to ${msg.to}:`, error);
      results.push({ error, to: msg.to });
    }
  }
  
  return results;
}

Error Handling and Reporting

Common Error Scenarios:

• Invalid phone number format
• Unregistered sender ID
• Network timeouts
• Carrier rejections

Logging Best Practices:

interface SMSLog {
  timestamp: Date;
  recipient: string;
  status: string;
  error?: any;
  provider: string;
  messageId?: string;
}

async function logSMSActivity(log: SMSLog): Promise<void&gt; {
  // Implement your logging logic here
  console.log(JSON.stringify(log, null, 2));
  
  // Example: Store in database
  await db.smsLogs.insert(log);
}

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Always use pre-registered sender IDs
• Implement proper rate limiting
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Maintain comprehensive logging
• Follow time window restrictions

Next Steps:

1. Register sender IDs with chosen provider
2. Implement delivery tracking
3. Set up monitoring and alerting
4. Test with small volumes before scaling

Additional Information:

• ARTCI (Telecom Regulator): https://www.artci.ci
• Orange Ivory Coast Developer Portal: https://developer.orange.com/apis/sms-ci
• SMS Compliance Guidelines: https://www.artci.ci/index.php/sms-guidelines