Frequently Asked Questions
Use an SMS API like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Ensure the recipient's number is in E.164 format (+248 followed by the number) and use an approved sender ID. Implement proper error handling and monitor delivery rates for optimal performance.
Seychelles has a growing mobile market with increasing SMS usage. While OTT apps are popular, SMS remains reliable for business communication and critical alerts due to its broad reach. Key operators include Airtel.
According to current platform capabilities, two-way SMS is not supported in Seychelles. Businesses can send messages but cannot receive replies via the same channel.
The recommended window for marketing messages is 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM SCT on business days. Respect local holidays and weekends, and avoid sending during major cultural or religious events.
No, sending SMS to landlines in Seychelles is not possible. Attempts will result in a 400 response with error code 21614, but accounts won't be charged.
The Mobile Country Code (MCC) for Seychelles is 633. This code is essential for routing international SMS messages correctly.
Obtain explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages, honor STOP requests immediately, and respect sending hours. Adhere to general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices.
Concatenated SMS is not supported in Seychelles. Standard SMS length limits apply, so keep messages concise to ensure reliable delivery within a single SMS.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are supported and don't require pre-registration. However, they may be overwritten on the Airtel network with a generic alphanumeric ID.
Process opt-out requests within 24 hours, maintain a centralized opt-out database, and send an opt-out confirmation message. Conduct regular audits for compliance.
Keep messages under 160 characters, include a clear call to action, and maintain a consistent sender ID. Limit marketing messages and personalize thoughtfully.
MMS is not directly supported. Instead, MMS content is converted to an SMS with a URL so recipients can view the multimedia content online, maintaining compatibility with local networks.
Gambling, adult content, cryptocurrency promotions, unauthorized financial services, and political messaging without authorization are restricted.
The default rate limit is 100 messages per second. Batch processing and queuing are recommended for high volumes. Implement exponential backoff for retries.
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Seychelles SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Seychelles SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Seychelles has a growing mobile telecommunications market with increasing SMS usage for both personal and business communications. The market is primarily served by major operators like Airtel, which maintains a significant presence in the region. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity, SMS remains a reliable communication channel, particularly for business-to-consumer communications and critical notifications due to its universal reach and reliability.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Seychelles
Seychelles supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features like two-way messaging and concatenation.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Seychelles according to current platform capabilities. This means businesses can send outbound messages, but cannot receive replies through the same channel.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Concatenated messaging is not supported in Seychelles.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply.
Encoding considerations: Messages should be kept within single SMS length limits to ensure reliable delivery.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Seychelles. Instead, MMS content is automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. This ensures that rich media can still be shared while maintaining compatibility with local network capabilities.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Seychelles. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which can simplify message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Seychelles. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response with error code 21614. These messages will not appear in logs, and accounts will not be charged for failed attempts.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Seychelles
The Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority, established under the Communications Act 2023, oversees electronic communications services including SMS messaging. While specific SMS regulations are evolving, businesses must adhere to general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
While Seychelles does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Seychelles follows SCT (Seychelles Time, UTC+4) Recommended Sending Windows:
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Seychelles
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported
Registration requirements: Dynamic usage allowed without pre-registration
Sender ID preservation: May be overwritten on Airtel network with generic alphanumeric ID
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Sender ID preservation: Variable depending on carrier
Provisioning time: N/A for domestic, varies for international
Use cases: Transactional messaging, alerts, notifications
Short Codes
Support: Available through local carriers
Provisioning time: Not currently supported through major platforms
Use cases: High-volume messaging, marketing campaigns, 2FA
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Industries and Content:
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Rules:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Seychelles
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Seychelles
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Seychelles. Here's how to implement it:
Sinch
Sinch offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for Seychelles through their REST API:
MessageBird
MessageBird provides a straightforward API for SMS delivery to Seychelles:
Plivo
Plivo's API integration for Seychelles SMS messaging:
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Throughput Management Strategies:
Error Handling and Reporting
Common Error Scenarios:
Logging Best Practices:
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities:
Technical Considerations:
Best Practices:
Next Steps
Additional Resources