Frequently Asked Questions
Use an SMS API provider like Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, or Plivo. Implement their provided code examples, ensuring you use a registered alphanumeric sender ID and format recipient numbers with +242. Remember two-way SMS is not supported.
The Republic of the Congo has a growing mobile market, primarily using Android devices. SMS remains a key communication channel, especially for businesses, due to its reliability and broad reach. While OTT apps are gaining traction, SMS is still vital, particularly outside urban areas.
MMS is not directly supported. Instead, MMS messages are converted to SMS with a URL link to the media content. This ensures deliverability across all devices while still providing access to multimedia.
Send messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time (UTC+1), avoiding Sundays and religious holidays. Adhere to best practices by limiting messages to 2-3 per week per recipient and spacing out bulk sends.
No, short codes are not currently supported. Alphanumeric sender IDs and international long codes (with limitations) are the available options for sending SMS.
Concatenated messages are supported, but standard length limits apply: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding and 70 for UCS-2. While both are supported, UCS-2 is recommended for special characters or non-Latin alphabets.
The ARPCE regulates the telecom sector. Businesses must secure explicit consent before sending marketing messages, honor opt-out requests (STOP, ARRET, ARRÊT, HELP, AIDE), and maintain clean contact lists.
All SMS campaigns must support opt-out keywords (STOP, ARRET, ARRÊT, HELP, AIDE) in both French and English. Confirmation messages are mandatory, and opt-out requests must be processed within 24 hours.
Gambling, adult content, unauthorized financial services, and political campaigns without authorization are restricted. Content filtering exists, so avoid URL shorteners, unclear language, and excessive punctuation.
Keep messages under 160 characters, include clear calls-to-action, maintain branding, and use personalization thoughtfully. Localize messages in French, or both French and English for international audiences.
The article provides code examples for Twilio, Sinch, MessageBird, and Plivo. Choose a provider and follow their specific integration instructions, ensuring you manage sender IDs and recipient number formatting correctly.
The default rate limit is 30 messages per second, with a batch limit of 500 recipients per request. Daily quotas may exist. Use queuing systems and batch APIs for large-scale sending.
Invalid number formats, network congestion, sender ID rejection, and content filtering are common issues. Implement thorough error logging, track delivery receipts, and set up alerts for high failure rates.
The article provides links to the ARPCE, telecommunications law, and GSMA guidelines. It also recommends consulting local legal counsel for compliance review.
Republic of the Congo SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Send SMS messages to the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) with confidence. This comprehensive SMS guide covers ARPCE compliance requirements, telecommunications regulations, sender ID registration processes, mobile network operators (MTN Congo, Airtel Congo, Congo Telecom), and A2P messaging best practices for businesses targeting the Congolese market. Whether you're sending transactional SMS, marketing messages, or OTP authentication codes, understand the regulatory landscape and technical requirements for successful message delivery.
Republic of Congo SMS Market Overview & Mobile Network Landscape
Market Conditions: The Republic of the Congo has a growing mobile market with three major operators: MTN Congo (60% market share, approximately 2.4 million customers), Airtel Congo (40% market share), and the newly operational Congo Telecom mobile network (launched December 2024). SMS remains a crucial communication channel, particularly for business messaging and notifications. While OTT messaging apps are gaining popularity in urban areas, SMS maintains its importance due to its reliability and universal reach across both feature phones and smartphones. In February 2023, MTN and Airtel signed a national roaming agreement to improve coverage across the country.
SMS Features and Technical Capabilities in Republic of Congo
The Republic of the Congo supports basic SMS functionality with some limitations on advanced features, focusing primarily on one-way messaging capabilities.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is not supported in the Republic of the Congo through standard A2P channels. Design your messaging strategies around one-way communication flows.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenated messages are supported, though availability may vary by sender ID type.
Message length rules: Standard SMS length limits apply – 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported, with UCS-2 recommended for messages containing special characters or non-Latin alphabets.
MMS Support
MMS messages are not directly supported in the Republic of the Congo. When you send MMS, the system automatically converts it to SMS with an embedded URL link where recipients can view the media content. This ensures message delivery while providing access to multimedia content through web links.
URL Delivery Example:
This approach works well for:
User Experience Considerations:
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is not available in the Republic of the Congo. Mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operators, which simplifies message routing and delivery.
Sending SMS to Landlines
You cannot send SMS to landline numbers in the Republic of the Congo. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in delivery failure, with APIs typically returning a 400 response with error code 21614. These messages will not appear in logs, and your account will not be charged.
SMS Compliance: ARPCE Regulatory Guidelines and Requirements
The Agence de Régulation des Postes et des Communications Électroniques (ARPCE), located in Brazzaville, regulates the Republic of the Congo's telecommunications sector. ARPCE's mission is to "make the Congo enter the Top 5 of African countries leaders in Posts and Electronic Communications." While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, follow general telecommunications guidelines and international best practices for messaging.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Support standard opt-out keywords in all SMS campaigns:
Opt-out Example Messages:
Implementation Requirements:
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
The Republic of the Congo does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. Implement your own:
Time Zone Sensitivity
The Republic of the Congo observes UTC+1 time zone. Follow these best practices:
Sender ID Registration and Phone Number Requirements
Alphanumeric Sender ID Registration
Operator network capability: Supported with restrictions
Registration requirements: Pre-registration required, takes approximately 3 weeks
Sender ID preservation: Yes for registered IDs, but may be overwritten on certain networks
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Sender ID preservation: No, international numbers may be overwritten
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: Not recommended for primary messaging strategy
Short Codes
Support: Not currently supported in the Republic of the Congo
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A
Restricted Content and Prohibited SMS Use Cases
Restricted Industries and Content:
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filtering Rules:
Avoid These Common Patterns:
Remediation Strategies When Messages Are Filtered:
Immediate Actions:
Long-term Solutions:
Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:
SMS Best Practices for Republic of Congo Campaigns
SMS Messaging Strategy and Content Optimization
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit to 2 – 3 messages per week per recipient. Respect these key dates:
Major Congolese Holidays to Avoid:
Timing Best Practices:
Localization
Opt-Out Management
Testing and Monitoring
Essential Metrics to Track:
Testing Checklist:
Troubleshooting Common Delivery Issues:
Low Delivery Rates:
High Opt-out Rates:
Carrier-specific Failures:
SMS API Integration: Twilio_ Sinch_ MessageBird & Plivo
Twilio SMS API Integration
Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending A2P messages to the Republic of the Congo. Here's how to implement it:
Security Best Practices for API Credentials:
Sinch SMS API Integration
Sinch offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for the Republic of the Congo market:
MessageBird SMS API Integration
MessageBird provides a straightforward API for sending SMS to the Congo:
Plivo SMS API Integration
Plivo's API implementation for Congo SMS messaging:
API Rate Limits and Throughput
Default Rate Limits:
Strategies for Handling Rate Limits:
Strategies for Large-Scale Sending:
Error Handling and Reporting
Common Error Scenarios and Solutions:
Comprehensive Error Handling Example:
Webhook Implementation for Delivery Receipts:
Logging Best Practices:
Recap and Additional Resources
Key Takeaways
Compliance Checklist:
Technical Implementation Checklist:
Content Best Practices Checklist:
Priority Framework:
Next Steps
Implementation Timeline and Resources:
Action Items:
Additional Resources
Official Regulatory Resources:
Developer Support:
Community Forums:
Troubleshooting Resources:
Contact Information:
Source Citations
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority:
Mobile Network Operators & Market Data:
Technical Standards: