Mozambique SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a reputable SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Ensure your sender ID is pre-registered, especially for alphanumeric IDs, and comply with local regulations. Remember two-way SMS requires special handling via local aggregators as it's not supported through standard A2P channels.
As of 2022, Mozambique had 17.14 million mobile connections, representing 52.5% of the population. While OTT apps are growing, SMS remains crucial due to its reliability, especially in rural areas.
Short codes are not currently supported in Mozambique. For sending SMS, utilize pre-registered alphanumeric sender IDs or international long codes (though these may be overwritten and are not recommended as the primary method).
Adhere to East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+2) and send messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM EAT on weekdays, and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EAT on weekends. Avoid major holidays and religious observances.
No, sending SMS messages to landlines in Mozambique is not supported. Attempts to do so will result in a failed delivery and an error response (400 error code 21614) from the API, but no charges will occur.
Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending marketing messages. Maintain records of consent, include terms and conditions during opt-in, and provide transparent information about message frequency and content type.
All SMS campaigns must support opt-out keywords (STOP, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE in English and PARAR, CANCELAR in Portuguese). HELP/AJUDA should provide service information. Responses should be in both Portuguese and English, processed within 24 hours.
Mozambique follows standard SMS length limits: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding. Concatenated messages are supported to send longer messages.
Avoid gambling, adult content, unauthorized financial services, political messaging without authorization, and cryptocurrency promotions in your SMS messages.
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link for compatibility across all networks. Recipients can then view the rich media content online.
Number portability is not available in Mozambique. Mobile numbers are tied to their original network operators, which simplifies message routing and delivery.
Process opt-outs within 24 hours, maintain a centralized opt-out database, include opt-out instructions in every message, and conduct regular audits for compliance.
Limit SMS messages to 2-3 per week per recipient. Respect local business hours, consider Ramadan and other religious observances, and avoid sending during national holidays.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are supported but require pre-registration, especially with Movitel. The provisioning time is approximately two weeks. Pre-registration ensures sender ID preservation.
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