SMS Guidelines for the British Virgin Islands (UK)
Sending SMS messages to the British Virgin Islands (UK) requires adherence to specific guidelines and best practices to ensure compliance and successful delivery. Whether you are conducting an SMS marketing campaign or sending transactional messages, understanding the technical and legal considerations in this locale is crucial.
Overview of the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, is part of the North American region. The ISO code for the British Virgin Islands is "VG," and the mobile country code (MCC) is 348. The dialing code for the region is +1284, which is necessary when sending SMS messages from outside the locale.
Two-Way SMS and Number Portability
- Two-Way SMS: Not supported in the British Virgin Islands, meaning users cannot reply to messages.
- Number Portability: Not available, so mobile numbers cannot be transferred between carriers.
Concatenated Message Support
Concatenated messages are supported for messages exceeding the standard SMS character limit. This allows longer messages to be split into smaller segments and reassembled upon receipt. Note that certain sender ID types may not support concatenation, and message length before segmentation depends on the character encoding used.
MMS Support
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is not directly supported. Instead, multimedia content like images or videos is converted to an SMS with an embedded URL, enabling recipients to view the content via a web link.
Sending SMS to Landline Numbers
Sending SMS to landline numbers in the British Virgin Islands is not supported. Attempts to send SMS to a landline will result in a 400 response with error code 21614 from the Sent REST API, and the message will not be logged or charged.
Compliance Considerations
To ensure compliance with local laws and best practices, adhere to the following guidelines:
- Obtain Opt-in Consent: Secure explicit opt-in consent from users before sending any communication, especially marketing or non-essential messages.
- Respect Time Zones: Send messages during the recipient's daytime hours unless the message is urgent or time-sensitive.
- Support HELP/STOP Messages: Provide users with the ability to reply with HELP or STOP messages, supported in the local language.
- Avoid Do-Not-Call Registries: Do not send messages to users listed on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.
By following these guidelines, your SMS campaigns can be both compliant and effective in reaching your audience in the British Virgin Islands.
FAQs
Is two-way SMS supported in the British Virgin Islands?
No, two-way SMS messaging is not supported. Users cannot reply to SMS messages sent to them.
Can I send SMS to landline numbers in the British Virgin Islands?
No, SMS messages cannot be sent to landline numbers. Attempts will result in a 400 response with error code 21614, and the message will not be logged or charged.
Does Sent support concatenated messages in the British Virgin Islands?
Yes, Sent supports concatenated messages, although certain sender ID types may not support this feature, and message segmentation may vary based on character encoding.
For more information on SMS regulations, visit the British Virgin Islands Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. By staying informed about these guidelines and best practices, you can ensure that your SMS campaigns in the British Virgin Islands are both compliant and effective.