Sierra Leone SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Explicit consent is required for marketing messages in Sierra Leone. Businesses must maintain records of consent, offer clear opt-out methods, and adhere to recommended sending hours (8 AM to 8 PM local time). It's also crucial to respect local holidays and cultural observances when scheduling SMS campaigns.
Use the +232 country code followed by the recipient's number. Several SMS API providers like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, and Plivo offer services for Sierra Leone. Remember to comply with local regulations and best practices regarding consent and content.
Sierra Leone supports basic SMS and concatenated messages. Two-way SMS and MMS are not directly supported; MMS messages are converted to SMS with a URL link. Number portability is also unavailable.
The article doesn't explain why two-way SMS isn't supported, but it states that recipients can't directly reply to messages sent through messaging platforms. This suggests limitations in the telecommunications infrastructure or regulations.
No, sending SMS to landline numbers in Sierra Leone is not possible. Attempts to do so will result in a 400 error response with error code 21614, and these messages will not be charged.
Short codes are supported and suitable for marketing campaigns, two-factor authentication, and customer service. The provisioning process takes 4-8 weeks for approval and activation. Contact local carriers for details on obtaining a short code.
The Mobile Country Code (MCC) for Sierra Leone is 619. This code is used in mobile networks to identify the country where a mobile subscriber's SIM card is registered.
The recommended SMS sending window in Sierra Leone is between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time (GMT). Urgent messages like security alerts may be sent outside these hours, but always consider local holidays and cultural observances.
Process opt-out requests (STOP, CANCEL, END) within 24 hours and send a confirmation message. Maintain comprehensive opt-out logs for at least 12 months, and regularly audit for compliance. Although Sierra Leone doesn't have a Do Not Call registry, businesses should maintain their own suppression lists.
Gambling, adult content, unauthorized financial services, unauthorized political campaigns, and cryptocurrency promotions are restricted via SMS. Content filtering is in place, and messages with specific keywords or URLs might be blocked.
Avoid excessive punctuation, all-caps text, and URL shorteners. Use registered sender IDs, maintain consistent sending patterns, and always include clear opt-out instructions in your messages.
Dynamic alphanumeric sender IDs are supported in Sierra Leone without pre-registration. However, be aware that certain carriers, especially Africell, may modify them. Long codes and short codes are also available, with varying limitations and use cases.
Keep messages concise (under 160 characters), include clear calls-to-action, and personalize when appropriate. Localize content in English and Krio, and avoid colloquialisms. Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per week per recipient.
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