Frequently Asked Questions
Use the international format (+976) followed by the recipient's number. Several SMS API providers like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, and Plivo offer integration options for sending messages to Mongolia. Remember to comply with local regulations and best practices.
Mongolia supports basic SMS, including concatenated messages for longer texts. However, two-way SMS and MMS are not directly supported. MMS content is converted to SMS with a URL link. Number portability is also not available.
According to current carrier configurations, two-way SMS is not supported in Mongolia. Businesses should therefore design their SMS strategies around one-way communication only.
Standard SMS length limits apply: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding. Mongolian script requires UCS-2, reducing the character limit per segment.
The best practice is to send messages between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time (UTC+8). Avoid sending during national holidays or outside these hours unless it's urgent, considering seasonal daylight variations.
No, sending SMS to landlines in Mongolia is not supported. Attempts to do so will result in failed delivery and an error response, but you won't be charged.
While specific SMS marketing regulations are evolving, obtain explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages. Implement clear opt-out mechanisms, maintain records of consent and opt-outs, and follow international best practices.
Support both English and Mongolian opt-out keywords like STOP/??????????. Process requests within 24 hours, send confirmation messages in the same language as the request, and maintain suppression lists for at least 12 months.
Alphanumeric sender IDs and international long codes are supported, with sender ID preservation. Domestic long codes and short codes are not currently available in Mongolia.
Document how and when consent was obtained, use double opt-in processes, clearly state the type and frequency of messages, and provide terms and conditions in both Mongolian and English.
Gambling, adult content, unauthorized financial services, political campaigns without authorization, and cryptocurrency promotions are restricted. Content filtering may also block certain keywords, suspicious URLs, and high-volume sending from new IDs.
Keep messages concise, include clear calls to action, personalize content, limit marketing messages to a reasonable frequency, localize content, manage opt-outs effectively, and test across all major carriers.
Implement queue systems, use batch APIs, and employ exponential backoff for retries. Monitor delivery rates and adjust sending speed as needed.
Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, and Plivo provide SMS API integrations with varying throughput rates and functionalities. Each offers different code examples and documentation for setup.
Implement logging, track delivery receipts, monitor common error codes like invalid number format, network errors, and rate limit issues, and set up automated alerts for error thresholds.
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Mongolia SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Mongolia SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Mongolia has a growing mobile market with increasing SMS usage for both personal and business communications. The country has several major mobile operators including Mobicom, Unitel, and Skytel. While OTT messaging apps like WeChat and Facebook Messenger are popular in urban areas, SMS remains crucial for business communications and authentication services, especially in rural regions where internet connectivity may be limited. Android devices dominate the mobile market share in Mongolia.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Mongolia
Mongolia supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on one-way messaging capabilities for business communications.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Mongolia according to current carrier configurations. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communications only.
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 UCS-2 encoding.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported. Messages using Mongolian script require UCS-2 encoding, which reduces the character limit per segment.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Mongolia. 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 compatibility while still enabling rich media sharing capabilities.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Mongolia. Mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which helps ensure reliable message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Mongolia. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and an error response (400 error code 21614 for Twilio API implementations). These messages will not appear in logs and accounts will not be charged.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Mongolia
SMS communications in Mongolia are regulated by the Communications Regulatory Commission of Mongolia (CRC). 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 Required: You must obtain and document clear opt-in consent before sending marketing or promotional messages. Best practices include:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
While Mongolia doesn't mandate specific keywords, implementing standard opt-out mechanisms is strongly recommended:
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Mongolia does not currently maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Mongolia operates in UTC+8 (Ulaanbaatar Time). While there are no strict legal time restrictions, follow these best practices:
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Mongolia
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: Ideal for transactional messages, alerts, and notifications
Short Codes
Support: Not currently available in Mongolia
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Industries and Content:
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filtering Rules:
Tips to Avoid Blocking:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Mongolia
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Mongolia
Twilio
Twilio provides robust SMS capabilities for sending messages to Mongolia. Integration requires your Account SID and Auth Token from the Twilio Console.
Sinch
Sinch offers direct carrier connections for reliable message delivery to Mongolia. Authentication uses Bearer token.
MessageBird
MessageBird (correcting "Bird" in the template) provides reliable SMS delivery to Mongolia with straightforward integration.
Plivo
Plivo offers SMS capabilities for Mongolia with detailed delivery reporting.
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Strategies for Large-Scale Sending:
Error Handling and Reporting
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways:
Next Steps:
Additional Information:
Industry Resources: