Uruguay SMS Guide - sms-compliance -

Frequently Asked Questions

Use an SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, or MessageBird. Ensure the recipient's number is in E.164 format (+598) and comply with Uruguay's regulations by obtaining opt-in consent and honoring opt-out requests. Remember to handle errors gracefully and implement proper rate limiting as per provider guidelines.
Uruguay has a mature mobile market with high smartphone penetration. SMS remains important for business communication, despite WhatsApp's popularity. Antel, Movistar, and Claro are the major operators. Android devices are more common than iOS.
Most providers do not offer full two-way SMS support, impacting interactive campaigns and automated responses. This limitation is specific to the Uruguayan telecommunications infrastructure and provider capabilities.
Adhere to business hours (9:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time, UTC-3) and avoid Sundays and holidays. Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per month per recipient. Prioritize appropriate timing and respect local customs for optimal engagement.
Most Uruguayan carriers do not support alphanumeric sender IDs. They are usually overwritten with a numeric format. International long codes are supported with limitations but domestic long codes are not.
Uruguay supports concatenated SMS. Standard length limits apply (160 characters for GSM-7, 70 for UCS-2). Both encodings are supported, and messages are split automatically based on encoding used.
Process opt-out requests (STOP, BAJA, CANCELAR) within 24 hours, maintaining a database of unsubscribed numbers. Include clear opt-out instructions in every message and confirm the opt-out with a final message.
Gambling, adult content, unauthorized pharmaceutical promotions, and political campaign messages without authorization are restricted. Financial services require proper licensing. Be mindful of carrier content filtering rules.
Implement comprehensive error handling, logging errors with details like code, message, timestamp, and provider. Utilize retry logic for specific error codes, and monitor delivery rates across Antel, Movistar, and Claro.
Always use the E.164 format, which starts with +598 followed by the local number. This ensures proper routing and delivery across different carriers in Uruguay.
Twilio's rate limit is 250 messages per second, Sinch's is 30 per second, and MessageBird's is 60 per second. Implement rate limiting in your code to avoid exceeding these limits.
Obtain explicit opt-in consent, honor opt-out requests promptly, and maintain records of consent. Follow best practices and consult URSEC guidelines for compliance with consumer protection laws.
MMS is not directly supported. MMS content is converted to SMS with a URL where recipients can view the multimedia. This method ensures compatibility and still enables rich media sharing.
Number portability is not available in Uruguay. Numbers remain tied to the original carrier, simplifying routing but limiting consumer choice.
Uruguay does not support sending SMS messages to landline numbers. Attempts will result in delivery failure (error code 21614) from SMS platforms, without incurring charges.
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