Frequently Asked Questions
Use an SMS API like Twilio, Sinch, or MessageBird, ensuring the recipient's number is in E.164 format (+381...). Register an alphanumeric sender ID for better deliverability and brand recognition. Remember to comply with Serbian regulations, including obtaining consent and providing opt-out instructions.
Utilize a queueing system like Bull to manage high-volume sends, incorporating exponential backoff for rate limiting and error handling. Batch APIs are recommended for efficiency, and ensure compliance with Serbian regulations by obtaining consent and providing opt-out instructions.
Short codes are not supported within Serbia. For transactional messages, alerts, and notifications, international long codes are supported as an alternative.
Adhere to Serbian business hours (9:00 AM to 8:00 PM CET) and avoid sending during national or religious holidays. Respect weekend quiet hours (before 10:00 AM and after 6:00 PM) to minimize disruption.
Obtain explicit consent before sending marketing messages, include a clear opt-out instruction ("Odjava STOPMFL na 1599, 0din") in every message, and process opt-outs within 24 hours. Maintain records of consent and opt-out requests.
Serbian regulations require processing opt-out requests within 24 hours. Include the opt-out phrase "Odjava STOPMFL na 1599, 0din" in every message. Use "STOP" or "STOPMFL" keywords and recognize them in both Serbian and English. Maintain a database of unsubscribed numbers.
Concatenated messages and alphanumeric sender IDs are supported, enabling longer messages and brand recognition. Two-way SMS is not supported while MMS messages are converted to SMS with embedded links to access rich content
No, sending SMS to landline numbers in Serbia is not supported and will result in a 400 error (code 21614). No charges are incurred for these failed attempts.
Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 are supported. However, messages with Serbian characters require UCS-2 encoding, limiting each segment to 70 characters instead of the standard 160 characters for GSM-7.
Pre-registration for alphanumeric sender IDs in Serbia takes approximately 16 days. Registered IDs are preserved, while unregistered ones may be overwritten with a generic sender ID.
Gambling, adult content, cryptocurrency promotions, unauthorized financial services, and political campaign messages without authorization are restricted. Content filtering by carriers may also block messages with certain keywords, URLs, or excessive punctuation.
Keep messages concise, include a clear call to action, personalize thoughtfully, and maintain a consistent brand voice. Limit messages to 2-4 per month per recipient, respect holidays and quiet hours, and prioritize Serbian language (Latin script).
Obtain explicit written or electronic consent before sending marketing messages. Clearly state the purpose of communication during the opt-in process. Double opt-in is recommended for marketing campaigns and records of consent should be maintained
The Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL) website (www.ratel.rs/en) provides detailed information on telecommunications regulations, including those pertaining to SMS.
Implement exponential backoff strategies for retry logic to handle rate limits imposed by SMS providers. Utilize batch APIs for high-volume sending and consider queue systems for large campaigns to manage throughput effectively.
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Serbia SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Serbia SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Serbia has a mature mobile market with high SMS adoption rates. The country's main mobile operators include Telekom Srbija (MTS), Telenor Serbia, and VIP Mobile. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Viber are popular, SMS remains crucial for business communications and authentication. Android devices dominate the market, though iOS usage continues to grow among urban populations.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Serbia
Serbia supports most standard SMS features including concatenated messages and alphanumeric sender IDs, though two-way SMS functionality is limited.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Serbia through major SMS providers. Businesses requiring interactive messaging capabilities should consider alternative communication channels.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenation is supported, though availability may vary by sender ID type.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length of 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 Serbian characters require UCS-2 encoding, reducing the character limit to 70 per segment.
MMS Support
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This conversion ensures delivery while maintaining rich media sharing capabilities through web-based content.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Serbia. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carriers, simplifying message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614), and no charges will be incurred.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Serbia
Serbia follows a combination of local telecommunications regulations and practices aligned with EU standards. The Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL) oversees telecommunications services, including SMS communications.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Serbia does not maintain a centralized Do Not Call registry. However, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Serbia observes Central European Time (CET/CEST). Best practices include:
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Serbia
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Supported with optional pre-registration
Registration requirements: Pre-registration available, takes approximately 16 days
Sender ID preservation: Yes for registered IDs; unregistered may be overwritten with generic sender ID
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International: International long codes supported; domestic not available
Sender ID preservation: No, sender IDs are overwritten with generic alphanumeric ID
Provisioning time: Immediate for international long codes
Use cases: Transactional messages, alerts, and notifications
Short Codes
Support: Not supported in Serbia
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Industries:
Content Filtering
Carrier Filtering Rules:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Serbia
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Serbia
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API with comprehensive support for Serbian message delivery. Authentication uses account SID and auth token credentials.
Sinch
Sinch offers a straightforward REST API for SMS delivery in Serbia, requiring API token authentication.
MessageBird
MessageBird provides a feature-rich API with strong support for Serbian message delivery.
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Error Handling and Reporting
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities
Technical Considerations
Next Steps
Additional Resources
Contact Information: