Micronesia SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Micronesia SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: The Federated States of Micronesia has a developing mobile telecommunications market with SMS being a crucial communication channel. The market is characterized by limited competition among mobile operators and growing adoption of mobile services. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity in urban areas, SMS remains essential for reaching the broader population, especially in remote islands where internet connectivity may be limited.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Micronesia

Micronesia supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on standard message delivery capabilities.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Micronesia according to current provider guidelines. This means businesses can send outbound messages but cannot receive replies through the same channel.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenated messaging is supported in Micronesia, though support may vary by sender ID type.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply before concatenation occurs.
Encoding considerations: Messages support both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding, with concatenation points varying based on the chosen encoding method.

MMS Support

MMS messages are not directly supported in Micronesia. Instead, MMS content is automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the multimedia content. This ensures that rich media can still be shared while maintaining compatibility with local network capabilities.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Micronesia. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which can simplify message routing but limits consumer flexibility in changing providers while keeping their number.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Micronesia. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery with a 400 response error (code 21614), and no charges will be incurred for these attempted messages.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia Telecommunications Regulation Authority (FSMTRA) oversees telecommunications services, though specific SMS regulations are limited. Businesses should follow international best practices and general telecommunications guidelines to ensure compliance.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending any marketing or non-essential messages
• Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
• Include clear terms of service that specify message frequency and content type
• Provide transparent information about message costs and data rates

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard HELP and STOP commands
• Messages should include clear opt-out instructions
• STOP commands must be honored immediately
• Consider supporting both English and local Micronesian languages for key commands
• Maintain a list of standard keywords: STOP, CANCEL, END, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

While Micronesia does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry, businesses should:

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests immediately
• Document all opt-out requests and their processing dates
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove unsubscribed numbers
• Implement automated systems to prevent messaging to opted-out numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

• Observe Micronesia's time zone (UTC+10/+11)
• Restrict message sending to local business hours (8:00 AM - 8:00 PM)
• Exception for urgent messages like security alerts or emergency notifications
• Consider cultural and religious observances when scheduling messages

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Micronesia

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Not supported for dynamic usage
Registration requirements: No pre-registration system in place
Sender ID preservation: N/A due to lack of support

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes not supported
• International long codes fully supported

Sender ID preservation: Original sender ID is preserved for international long codes
Provisioning time: Typically 1-2 business days
Use cases:

• Transactional messages
• Customer support
• Appointment reminders
• Account notifications

Short Codes

Support: Short codes are not currently supported in Micronesia
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Restricted Content Types:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or explicit material
• Unauthorized financial services
• Illegal products or services
• Misleading or fraudulent content

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Filtering Rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs from suspicious domains are filtered
• High-volume sending patterns may trigger spam filters

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Avoid excessive punctuation and special characters
• Use approved URL shorteners
• Maintain consistent sending patterns
• Keep message content clear and professional
• Avoid common spam trigger words

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Micronesia

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear calls-to-action
• Personalize messages using recipient's name or relevant details
• Maintain consistent branding across messages

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per month
• Space out messages to avoid overwhelming recipients
• Respect local holidays and cultural events
• Monitor engagement rates to optimize timing

Localization

• Support both English and local Micronesian languages
• Consider cultural nuances in message content
• Use appropriate date and time formats
• Respect local customs and traditions

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Maintain accurate opt-out records
• Provide clear opt-out instructions in every message
• Regular audit of opt-out list compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test messages across different carriers
• Monitor delivery rates and engagement metrics
• Track opt-out rates and patterns
• Regular review of message performance analytics
• Test message rendering on various device types

SMS API integrations for Micronesia

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Micronesia. Here's how to implement it:

import { Twilio } from 'twilio';

// Initialize Twilio client with your credentials
const client = new Twilio(
  process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,
  process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
);

async function sendSMSToMicronesia(
  to: string,
  message: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    // Ensure phone number is in E.164 format for Micronesia (+691)
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+691') ? to : `+691${to}`;

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      to: formattedNumber,
      from: process.env.TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER,
      // Optional: statusCallback URL for delivery updates
      statusCallback: 'https://your-webhook.com/status'
    });

    console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers a straightforward API for SMS delivery to Micronesia:

import axios from 'axios';

interface SinchSMSResponse {
  id: string;
  status: string;
}

async function sendSinchSMS(
  to: string,
  message: string
): Promise<SinchSMSResponse> {
  const SINCH_API_TOKEN = process.env.SINCH_API_TOKEN;
  const SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID = process.env.SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID;

  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      `https://sms.api.sinch.com/xms/v1/${SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID}/batches`,
      {
        from: process.env.SINCH_SENDER_ID,
        to: [to],
        body: message
      },
      {
        headers: {
          'Authorization': `Bearer ${SINCH_API_TOKEN}`,
          'Content-Type': 'application/json'
        }
      }
    );

    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sinch SMS Error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides a reliable SMS API with good coverage in Micronesia:

import messagebird from 'messagebird';

class MessageBirdService {
  private client: any;

  constructor(apiKey: string) {
    this.client = messagebird(apiKey);
  }

  async sendSMS(
    to: string,
    message: string
  ): Promise<any> {
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      this.client.messages.create({
        originator: process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_ORIGINATOR,
        recipients: [to],
        body: message,
        // Optional parameters for delivery reporting
        reportUrl: 'https://your-webhook.com/delivery-reports'
      }, (err: any, response: any) => {
        if (err) {
          reject(err);
        } else {
          resolve(response);
        }
      });
    });
  }
}

Plivo

Plivo offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for Micronesia:

import plivo from 'plivo';

class PlivoService {
  private client: any;

  constructor() {
    this.client = new plivo.Client(
      process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID,
      process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN
    );
  }

  async sendSMS(
    to: string,
    message: string
  ): Promise<any> {
    try {
      const response = await this.client.messages.create({
        src: process.env.PLIVO_SENDER_ID, // Your Plivo number
        dst: to,
        text: message,
        // Optional URL to receive delivery reports
        url: 'https://your-webhook.com/delivery-status'
      });

      return response;
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Plivo SMS Error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Standard rate limit: 1 message per second per destination
• Batch sending limit: 100 messages per request
• Daily sending quota varies by provider and account type

Strategies for Large-Scale Sending:

• Implement queuing system using Redis or similar
• Use batch APIs where available
• Implement exponential backoff for retries
• Monitor throughput and adjust sending rates

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive logging with Winston or similar
• Track delivery receipts via webhooks
• Monitor common error codes:
  • 21614: Invalid number format
  • 21408: Rate limit exceeded
  • 21611: Message blocked
• Store delivery status updates for reporting

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Always format numbers in E.164 format (+691)
• Implement proper error handling and logging
• Monitor delivery rates and engagement
• Follow local time restrictions and compliance guidelines

Next Steps:

1. Review the FSMTRA telecommunications guidelines
2. Implement proper opt-out handling
3. Set up delivery receipt monitoring
4. Test thoroughly with small batches before scaling

Additional Information:

• FSMTRA Official Website
• Micronesia Telecommunications Regulations
• SMS Best Practices Guide

Provider-Specific Resources:

• Twilio Micronesia Guidelines
• Sinch API Documentation
• MessageBird API Reference
• Plivo API Documentation