Taiwan SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use a reputable SMS provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Their APIs offer integration with Taiwan's specific requirements. Remember to handle long codes appropriately, as sender IDs are often modified upon delivery.
Taiwan's mobile market is highly developed, but while apps like LINE are popular for personal use, SMS remains vital for business needs like authentication and marketing. Key operators include Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone.
Alphanumeric sender IDs are not supported for direct use, and long code sender IDs are modified by carriers. This is part of Taiwan's regulatory framework aimed at preventing spam and ensuring proper identification of message senders.
Avoid sending promotional messages between 9:00 PM and 9:00 AM, and also during the lunch break from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Taiwan Standard Time (GMT+8). Emergency and service messages are exempt.
No, sending SMS messages to landline numbers in Taiwan is not supported. Attempts will result in a 400 response error (code 21614) with no message delivery and no charge incurred.
Standard SMS messages are 160 characters (GSM-7) or 70 characters (UCS-2). However, for Chinese characters, the limit is 65 characters per SMS. Longer messages will be concatenated.
Obtain explicit consent for marketing messages, adhere to strict time restrictions, register URLs with carriers, and regularly check numbers against the Do Not Call (DNC) registry managed by the NCC.
Gambling, adult content, financial loans, political or religious messages, controlled substances, alcohol, and links to messaging apps like WhatsApp or LINE are all prohibited in SMS content.
All marketing SMS must include opt-out instructions (STOP, CANCEL, etc. in both English and Chinese), and businesses are required to process and remove numbers from lists within 24 hours of the request.
Shortened URLs are strictly prohibited. Use full-length URLs and pre-register them with local carriers to ensure successful delivery and avoid content filtering issues.
Use UCS-2 encoding for messages containing Chinese characters. This ensures proper display on recipients' devices, especially given the prevalence of Android devices (around 65% market share).
Explicit consent, either written or electronic, is mandatory for marketing messages. Double opt-in, storing consent details (time, source), and regularly updating consent status are best practices.
The article does not detail specific penalties, but mentions that SMS communications are regulated by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and governed by the Telecommunications Act.
The National Communications Commission (NCC) website (www.ncc.gov.tw) and the Ministry of Justice website for the Personal Data Protection Act (www.moj.gov.tw/EN/pdpa) offer further resources.
Loading...