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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Sierra Leone SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Sierra Leone SMS Market Overview
Market Conditions: Sierra Leone's mobile market is dominated by major operators including Africell and Orange. SMS remains a crucial communication channel, particularly for business messaging and notifications. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity in urban areas, SMS maintains widespread reach due to its universal compatibility and reliability in areas with limited internet connectivity. Android devices significantly outnumber iOS in the market, reflecting broader African mobile usage patterns.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on one-way messaging capabilities for business and personal communication.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in Sierra Leone, meaning recipients cannot directly reply to messages sent through messaging platforms.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenated messaging is supported in Sierra Leone, though with some limitations.
Message length rules: Standard SMS character limits apply before message splitting occurs.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding are supported, though support may vary by sender ID type.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in Sierra Leone. When attempting to send MMS content, the message will be automatically converted to an SMS containing a URL link to access the multimedia content.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in Sierra Leone. Users cannot retain their mobile numbers when switching between service providers.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Sierra Leone. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 error response with error code 21614, and these messages will not be logged or charged to the account.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Sierra Leone
SMS communications in Sierra Leone are regulated by the National Communications Authority (NatCA), formerly known as the National Telecommunications Commission. The Telecommunications Act of 2006 provides the primary legal framework for telecommunications services, including SMS messaging.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
While Sierra Leone does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry, businesses should:
Time Zone Sensitivity
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for Sierra Leone
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Dynamic alphanumeric sender IDs are supported
Registration requirements: Pre-registration is not supported, but dynamic usage is allowed
Sender ID preservation: Sender IDs may be modified by certain carriers, particularly Africell
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Sender ID preservation: No, original sender IDs are not preserved
Provisioning time: Immediate activation for international long codes
Use cases: Suitable for transactional messages and notifications
Short Codes
Support: Short codes are supported in Sierra Leone
Provisioning time: 4-8 weeks for approval and activation
Use cases:
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Restricted Industries and Content:
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filtering Rules:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Sierra Leone
Messaging Strategy
Sending Frequency and Timing
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
SMS API integrations for Sierra Leone
Twilio
Twilio provides robust SMS capabilities for sending messages to Sierra Leone. Here's how to implement it:
Sinch
Sinch offers comprehensive SMS services for Sierra Leone with the following integration approach:
MessageBird
MessageBird (referred to as "Bird" in the template) provides SMS capabilities for Sierra Leone:
Plivo
Plivo's SMS API integration for Sierra Leone:
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Error Handling and Reporting
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Priorities
Technical Considerations
Best Practices
Next Steps
Additional Resources