Turkmenistan SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a reputable SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Ensure your sender ID is registered, format phone numbers in E.164 format (+993), and pre-register any URLs in your message content to avoid filtering.
Turkmenistan's mobile market is dominated by the state-owned TM Cell and has strong government oversight. SMS is a key communication channel, but internet and OTT apps are gaining popularity. Android devices are preferred due to affordability.
Turkmenistan's regulatory environment mandates URL pre-registration to control content and prevent the spread of prohibited material. This helps maintain oversight of information disseminated via SMS.
Adhere to the 9 AM to 9 PM local time window (UTC+5) and avoid sending during national holidays or religious observances like Ramadan, unless it's an emergency message. Respecting these times ensures better reception.
No, two-way SMS is not currently supported according to carrier specifications. Businesses should design their SMS strategies around one-way communication flows.
Standard SMS length limits apply: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding (used for non-Latin characters). Concatenated messages are supported for longer content, but availability may vary.
Obtain explicit opt-in for marketing messages, support STOP/HELP commands in Latin and Cyrillic scripts, honor opt-out requests within 24 hours, and respect local time zones and cultural sensitivities.
Gambling, adult content, cryptocurrency, political messaging, and unauthorized financial services are restricted. Regulated industries like banking, healthcare, and insurance require specific approvals and compliance measures.
Process opt-out requests within 24 hours, maintain a centralized database of opted-out numbers for at least one year, always include opt-out instructions in every message, and audit compliance regularly.
Alphanumeric and international long codes are supported. Domestic long codes are limited. Short codes are not currently available. Note that sender IDs may be replaced with an international long code by the carrier.
Support both Turkmen and Russian languages, use both Latin and Cyrillic character sets, consider cultural sensitivities, and format dates and times according to local conventions.
Implement proper authentication, format phone numbers correctly, manage throughput by using batch APIs and queuing systems, and incorporate robust error handling with retry logic and backoff strategies.
Monitoring delivery rates helps identify potential issues like filtering, network problems, or incorrect number formatting. Daily monitoring and performance benchmarking against industry standards are crucial.
Register URLs with carriers, avoid using URL shorteners, use pre-approved sender IDs, keep content neutral and business-focused, and maintain consistent messaging patterns to minimize filtering.
Refer to the Ministry of Communications website, Telecom Regulations website, your SMS provider's documentation, GSMA Guidelines for Turkmenistan, and the International SMS Compliance framework.
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