SMS Guidelines for Saint Lucia
Understand the essential SMS regulations and best practices for Saint Lucia to ensure your messages are compliant and effectively delivered.
Key Features of SMS in Saint Lucia
Two-Way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Saint Lucia. You can send messages, but recipients cannot reply directly via SMS.
Number Portability
Saint Lucia allows number portability, enabling users to keep their mobile numbers when changing service providers. This ensures continuous communication with users, regardless of carrier changes.
Concatenated Message Support
Saint Lucia supports concatenated SMS, allowing messages exceeding the standard character limit to be split and reassembled. Note that this feature may vary based on sender ID types and character encoding.
Message Length
The character limit for a single SMS depends on the encoding used. Exceeding this limit will split the message into multiple segments. Monitor character count to prevent unintended splits.
MMS Support
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is not supported. Instead, MMS messages are converted to SMS with an embedded URL, sending media content as a link.
SMS to Landline
Sending SMS to landlines in Saint Lucia is not supported. Attempts will result in a 400 error code with error code 21614, and the message will not be delivered or charged.
Compliance Considerations
Ensure your SMS campaigns comply with local laws and best practices:
- Obtain Opt-In Consent: Secure explicit consent from recipients before sending messages, especially for marketing.
- Respect Local Time Zones: Send messages during local daytime hours unless urgent.
- Support HELP/STOP Commands: Allow recipients to manage preferences with commands like "HELP" or "STOP."
- Do-Not-Call Registries: Avoid contacting individuals on do-not-call lists.
For more compliance details, consult official guidelines.
Conclusion
Sending SMS in Saint Lucia requires understanding local technical capabilities and compliance requirements. While there are limitations like the lack of two-way SMS, features such as number portability offer flexibility. Adhering to best practices ensures effective and lawful communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two-way SMS supported in Saint Lucia?
No, two-way SMS is not supported. You can send messages, but recipients cannot reply via SMS.
Can I send SMS to a landline in Saint Lucia?
No, sending SMS to landlines is not supported. Attempts will result in an error and the message will not be delivered.
What is the mobile country code for Saint Lucia?
The mobile country code (MCC) for Saint Lucia is 358.
For further information, visit the Saint Lucia Government Website.