French Polynesia (France) SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a reputable SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Remember to prepend the French Polynesia country code (+689) to the recipient's phone number and comply with local regulations.
Standard SMS messages are limited to 160 characters when using GSM-7 encoding, or 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding, which allows for special characters like those used in Tahitian.
According to current network limitations, French Polynesia only supports one-way business-to-consumer SMS communication. Two-way messaging is not currently available.
The preferred sending window is between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM French Polynesia Time (FPT). Avoid sending messages between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM FPT out of respect for local time zones and customs.
No, SMS to landline numbers is not supported. Attempts will result in failed delivery and a 400 error code (21614) from the API, but you will not be charged.
French Polynesia follows French national telecommunications laws, primarily enforced by ARCEP and CNIL. Businesses must obtain explicit consent before sending marketing messages, honor opt-out requests promptly, and maintain thorough records of consent.
Obtain written or electronic consent that is freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous before sending marketing SMS. Double opt-in verification is strongly recommended, and consent records must be kept for at least three years.
All marketing SMS must include clear opt-out instructions. STOP ("STOP pour désabonner") and HELP/AIDE commands must be supported in French, and ideally Tahitian, for local accessibility.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are dynamically supported without pre-registration. While domestic long codes are technically supported by operators, they aren't available via major providers, whereas short codes are entirely unsupported in the region.
Keep messages concise (under 160 characters), personalize with recipient names, include clear call-to-actions, maintain a consistent sender ID, and limit sending frequency to 2-3 messages per week per recipient.
Process opt-out requests within 24 hours. Maintain a centralized opt-out database and ensure clear opt-out instructions in every message, confirming opt-out requests with an acknowledgment message.
Gambling, adult content, unauthorized financial services, prescription medications, and political messaging without proper disclaimers are restricted. Content filtering may also block messages with certain keywords, suspicious URLs, or excessive special characters.
Use clear and professional language, avoid URL shorteners, include legitimate business identifiers in messages, and maintain consistent sending patterns.
Providers like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, and Plivo offer SMS APIs. Ensure you follow their documentation and include the French Polynesia country code (+689) when sending messages.
The default rate limit is typically one message per second per destination. Batch sending allows up to 500 recipients per batch, and daily sending limits may vary based on account type.
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