Timor-Leste SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a reputable SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Ensure your Alphanumeric Sender ID is pre-registered with Telkomcel, the primary operator, and format recipient numbers with the +670 country code. Due to two-way SMS limitations, receiving replies through the same channel is not possible. Remember to comply with local regulations and best practices.
Alphanumeric Sender ID registration is mandatory in Timor-Leste for sending SMS messages through Telkomcel. Pre-registration is required and typically takes approximately two weeks. Registered IDs are preserved as-is, ensuring consistent brand recognition.
Timor-Leste does not currently support two-way SMS, meaning businesses can only send messages, not receive replies via SMS. Concatenated (long) messages and short codes are also not supported. Sending to landline numbers will result in failure with error code 21614 and not be charged.
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL. This conversion ensures deliverability across the network while still allowing multimedia content sharing via the linked resource.
Comply with Autoridade Nacional de Comunica????es (ANC) regulations. Obtain explicit opt-in consent for marketing messages, maintain records, and respect user opt-out requests. While not legally mandated, following HELP/STOP command best practices is highly recommended.
Send messages between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM TLT (UTC+9). Avoid sending during national holidays and religious observances. Urgent messages like authentication codes can be sent outside these hours.
No, sending SMS to landlines in Timor-Leste is not supported. Attempts to send will not be delivered or charged. The recipient will receive a 400 response with error code 21614.
International long codes are supported and provisioned immediately, while domestic long codes are not available. The original sender ID is preserved for international long codes. They are well-suited for transactional messages and two-factor authentication.
Use professional language, avoid spam trigger words and excessive capitalization, and include your company name in messages. Ensure URLs are from reputable domains and keep them short and recognizable.
Limit messages to 2-3 per week per recipient. Respect local holidays and cultural sensitivities, and schedule campaigns during business hours (9 AM to 8 PM TLT). Space out bulk sends to prevent network congestion.
Process opt-out requests (STOP, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE) within 24 hours. Maintain a centralized opt-out database, include clear opt-out instructions in كل message, and conduct regular compliance audits. Even though Timor-Leste doesn't have an official Do Not Call registry, best practice is to maintain your own suppression lists and honour opt-out requests immediately.
Primary languages are Tetum and Portuguese. Consider English for business communication. Use proper character encoding (UCS-2 is supported) for local language support. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities in message content.
The default rate limit is 100 messages per second. For volumes exceeding 1000 messages per hour, use batch processing. Implement exponential backoff for retry logic in case of rate limit errors. Consider throughput management strategies such as queuing and batch sending.
Log error details including timestamp, error type, message, and specifics. Implement retry logic, especially for rate limit errors, by adding failed messages to a retry queue. Categorize common error types like invalid numbers, blocked numbers, carrier errors, and rate limits.
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