Solomon Islands SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Send SMS messages to Solomon Islands mobile numbers with confidence. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about SMS messaging in Solomon Islands: TCSI regulatory compliance, mobile operator requirements (Our Telekom and Bmobile-Vodafone), sender ID options, current pricing, and technical specifications for reliable delivery to +677 numbers.

Whether you're implementing transactional notifications, marketing campaigns, or two-factor authentication, you'll learn how to navigate TCSI regulations, format phone numbers in E.164 format correctly, and integrate with leading SMS APIs like Twilio, Sinch, Plivo, and MessageBird to reach customers across Solomon Islands' telecommunications networks.

Solomon Islands SMS Market Overview

The Solomon Islands mobile market offers reliable SMS delivery through two primary operators: Our Telekom (Breeze network, government-owned) and Bmobile-Vodafone (launched 2010, Vodafone partnership since 2014). SMS remains the dominant channel for business communications due to limited internet infrastructure across rural areas, making it your most reliable option for reaching customers nationwide.

The SINBIP infrastructure project is currently deploying 161 3G/4G base stations across 35 islands, expanding coverage and improving service quality. This modernization enhances SMS delivery reliability while maintaining backward compatibility with existing 2G/3G devices.

Solomon Islands Quick Reference

What SMS Features and Capabilities Are Available in Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands supports basic SMS functionality with concatenated messaging, though two-way SMS has limitations.

Two-way SMS Support

Major SMS providers do not support two-way SMS in the Solomon Islands. Design your SMS strategies around one-way communications only.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, you can send concatenated messages across both operators.

Message length rules: Messages split after 160 characters.

Encoding considerations: Use GSM-7 encoding for standard text (160 chars) or UCS-2 for Unicode characters (70 chars per segment). Concatenated messages reduce available characters to 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (UCS-2) per segment due to headers.

MMS Support

The system automatically converts MMS messages to SMS with an embedded URL link. This ensures compatibility across all devices while allowing you to share rich media content through linked web pages.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in the Solomon Islands. Phone numbers remain tied to their original mobile network operators, ensuring straightforward message delivery routing based on the number prefix.

Sending SMS to Landlines

You cannot send SMS to landline numbers in the Solomon Islands. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in failed delivery and a 400 response error (code 21614) from SMS provider APIs.

TCSI Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Solomon Islands

The Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI), established under the Telecommunications Act 2009, oversees telecommunications regulations. Comply with general consumer protection guidelines and recent regulatory directives when sending SMS messages.

SIM Registration Requirements (2024)

Effective Date: June 1, 2024

Authority: Telecommunications (Subscriber Registration) Directives 2023

Completion Date: November 29, 2024

All SIM cards in the Solomon Islands must be registered under TCSI oversight. This national security and cybersecurity measure affects how you maintain customer contact databases:

• Verify that service providers register all subscribers and maintain accurate records
• Understand that failure to comply with registration requirements can result in severe penalties
• Ensure customer data is held securely and confidentially
• Verify that all contact numbers in your database are properly registered

Consent and Opt-In

Obtain and document clear opt-in consent before sending marketing messages. Follow these practices:

• Maintain detailed records of how and when you obtained consent
• Use clear language explaining what messages the user will receive
• Provide transparent information about message frequency
• Implement double opt-in for marketing campaigns

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

While not strictly required by local law, implement standard opt-out keywords:

• Support "STOP" and "HELP" commands in English
• Consider supporting "CANCEL" and "END" as alternative opt-out keywords
• Respond promptly to opt-out requests with confirmation messages
• Consider supporting Solomon Islands Pijin language keywords for wider accessibility

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

The Solomon Islands does not maintain an official Do Not Call registry. However, you should:

• Maintain your own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests immediately
• Keep records of opted-out numbers for at least 12 months
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove inactive numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

The Solomon Islands observes SBT (UTC+11). Follow these practices:

• Send messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM SBT
• Avoid messages during religious holidays and Sundays
• Limit urgent messages outside these hours to genuine emergencies

Alphanumeric Sender IDs and Phone Number Options for Solomon Islands SMS

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Supported

Registration requirements: Pre-registration not required, dynamic usage supported

Sender ID preservation: Sender IDs are generally preserved as sent

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 immediate for international long codes

Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication

Short Codes

Support: Short codes are not currently supported in the Solomon Islands

Provisioning time: N/A

Use cases: N/A

Phone Number Format and Technical Requirements for Solomon Islands SMS

Phone Number Format and Validation

E.164 Format: All Solomon Islands mobile numbers must use the international E.164 format: +677NXXXXXX

Number Length: 7 digits after the country code (+677)

Mobile Prefixes:

• Our Telekom (Breeze): Numbers starting with 7 (e.g., +677 7XXXXXX)
• Bmobile-Vodafone: Numbers starting with 8 (e.g., +677 8XXXXXX)

Validation Requirements:

• Always include the +677 country code for international delivery
• Remove spaces, hyphens, or parentheses before sending
• Verify the number has exactly 7 digits after the country code
• Landline numbers (starting with 2) will fail – only send to mobile numbers

Character Encoding and Message Length

GSM-7 Encoding: Standard 160 characters per segment for English and basic punctuation

UCS-2 Encoding: 70 characters per segment for Unicode characters (emojis, non-Latin scripts)

Concatenated Messages: Supported across both operators. Each additional segment reduces available characters due to concatenation headers (GSM-7: 153 chars/segment, UCS-2: 67 chars/segment).

Operator-Specific Routing

Since number portability is not available, routing is straightforward:

• Numbers starting with 7 → Our Telekom network
• Numbers starting with 8 → Bmobile-Vodafone network
• No need for HLR lookups or MNP databases

What SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases Are Restricted?

The Solomon Islands maintains general content restrictions aligned with cultural and religious values:

• Gambling and betting content prohibited
• Adult content strictly forbidden
• Financial services must include clear disclaimers
• Healthcare messages must avoid medical claims

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs should be from reputable domains
• Avoid excessive punctuation and all-caps text

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use clear, professional language
• Avoid spam trigger words
• Include company name in messages
• Keep URLs short and recognizable

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Solomon Islands

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-actions
• Identify your business in each message
• Use personalization thoughtfully (e.g., recipient's name)

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit marketing messages to 2-4 per month
• Space messages at least 48 hours apart
• Respect local holidays and weekends
• Consider seasonal events and weather patterns

Localization

• Primary languages: English and Solomon Islands Pijin
• Consider bilingual messages for wider reach
• Use simple, clear language
• Respect local cultural nuances

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Send opt-out confirmation messages
• Maintain accurate opt-out records
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test messages across major local carriers
• Monitor delivery rates closely
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular testing of opt-out functionality

Solomon Islands SMS Pricing (2025)

Pricing varies by provider and message type. Below are current verified rates:

Twilio Pricing (October 2025)

• Outbound SMS: $0.1194 per message segment
• Alphanumeric Sender ID: $0.1194 per message segment (no additional cost)
• International Numbers: $0.1194 per message segment
• Inbound SMS: Not supported
• Phone Number Cost: International numbers starting at $1.15/month
• Alphanumeric Sender ID: Free (send-only)

Additional Twilio Features:

• Link shortening/click tracking: $0.0150 per message (first 1,000 free monthly)
• SMS pumping protection: $0.0250 per message
• Failed message processing fee: $0.001 per failed message

Other Provider Pricing

Contact providers directly for current rates:

• Plivo: Contact sales for Solomon Islands pricing
• Sinch: Contact sales for current rates
• MessageBird: Contact sales for pricing details

Volume Discounts: Most providers offer committed-use discounts for high-volume senders. Contact sales teams for enterprise pricing tiers.

SMS API integrations for Solomon Islands

Twilio

Twilio provides reliable SMS delivery to the Solomon Islands through their REST API. Here's how to implement it:

import { Twilio } from 'twilio';

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

async function sendSMS(to: string, message: string) {
  try {
    // Format phone number to E.164 format for Solomon Islands
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+677') ? to : `+677${to}`;

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      to: formattedNumber,
      from: process.env.TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER, // Your Twilio number or approved sender ID
      // Optional parameters for delivery tracking
      statusCallback: 'https://your-webhook.com/status'
    });

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

Sinch

Sinch offers comprehensive SMS capabilities for the Solomon Islands market:

import { SinchClient } from '@sinch/sdk-core';

// Initialize Sinch client
const sinchClient = new SinchClient({
  projectId: process.env.SINCH_PROJECT_ID,
  apiToken: process.env.SINCH_API_TOKEN
});

async function sendSMS(to: string, message: string) {
  try {
    const response = await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({
      sendSMSRequestBody: {
        to: [to.startsWith('+677') ? to : `+677${to}`],
        from: 'YourCompany', // Alphanumeric sender ID
        body: message,
        // Optional delivery report configuration
        deliveryReport: 'summary'
      }
    });

    console.log('Message batch created:', response.id);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to send message:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides a straightforward API for sending SMS to the Solomon Islands:

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

// Initialize MessageBird client
const messagebird = new MessageBird(process.env.MESSAGEBIRD_API_KEY);

async function sendSMS(to: string, message: string): Promise<any&gt; {
  return new Promise((resolve, reject) =&gt; {
    messagebird.messages.create({
      originator: 'YourBrand',
      recipients: [to.startsWith('+677') ? to : `+677${to}`],
      body: message,
      // Optional parameters
      datacoding: 'auto', // Automatic character encoding detection
      reportUrl: 'https://your-webhook.com/delivery-reports'
    }, (err, response) =&gt; {
      if (err) {
        console.error('MessageBird error:', err);
        reject(err);
      } else {
        console.log('Message sent successfully:', response.id);
        resolve(response);
      }
    });
  });
}

Plivo

Plivo's API offers robust SMS functionality for the Solomon Islands:

import { Client } from 'plivo';

// Initialize Plivo client
const client = new Client(
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_ID,
  process.env.PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN
);

async function sendSMS(to: string, message: string) {
  try {
    const response = await client.messages.create({
      src: 'YourCompany', // Your sender ID
      dst: to.startsWith('+677') ? to : `+677${to}`,
      text: message,
      // Optional parameters
      url: 'https://your-webhook.com/status',
      method: 'POST'
    });

    console.log('Message sent:', response.messageUuid);
    return response;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Plivo error:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Standard rate limit: 30 messages per second
• Batch processing recommended for volumes over 1000/hour
• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
• Consider time-zone based throttling during peak hours

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive logging for all API responses
• Monitor delivery receipts via webhooks
• Track common error codes:
  • 4xx: Client errors (invalid numbers, formatting)
  • 5xx: Server errors (retry with backoff)
• Store message metadata for troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions About Solomon Islands SMS

What is the cost to send SMS to Solomon Islands?

Twilio charges $0.1194 per SMS segment to Solomon Islands mobile numbers (verified October 2025). Alphanumeric sender IDs cost the same as standard messages. International phone numbers start at $1.15/month. Other providers like Plivo, Sinch, and MessageBird require contacting sales for current pricing. Volume discounts are available for high-volume enterprise senders.

Do I need to register alphanumeric sender IDs in Solomon Islands?

No, you do not need to pre-register alphanumeric sender IDs in Solomon Islands. Both Our Telekom and Bmobile-Vodafone support dynamic alphanumeric sender IDs without registration requirements. Sender IDs are generally preserved as sent, making setup immediate and straightforward.

What is the correct phone number format for Solomon Islands mobile numbers?

Solomon Islands mobile numbers use E.164 format: +677NXXXXXX (7 digits after the country code). Our Telekom numbers start with 7 (e.g., +677 7XXXXXX), while Bmobile-Vodafone numbers start with 8 (e.g., +677 8XXXXXX). Always include the +677 country code and remove spaces or hyphens before sending.

Is two-way SMS supported in Solomon Islands?

No, major SMS providers do not support two-way SMS in Solomon Islands. You can only send outbound messages. Design your SMS strategies around one-way communications for notifications, alerts, and marketing campaigns rather than interactive messaging.

Does Solomon Islands support mobile number portability (MNP)?

No, mobile number portability is not available in Solomon Islands. Phone numbers remain tied to their original network operator, which simplifies routing: numbers starting with 7 route to Our Telekom, and numbers starting with 8 route to Bmobile-Vodafone.

What are the SMS compliance requirements in Solomon Islands?

Comply with TCSI regulations under the Telecommunications Act 2009. Key requirements include: obtaining explicit opt-in consent before sending marketing messages, implementing STOP/HELP commands, honoring opt-out requests within 24 hours, verifying SIM registration compliance (mandatory since June 2024), and sending messages only between 8:00 AM-8:00 PM SBT (UTC+11).

How many characters can I send in one SMS to Solomon Islands?

Use GSM-7 encoding for 160 characters per segment (standard English text), or UCS-2 encoding for 70 characters per segment (Unicode/emojis). Concatenated messages are supported but reduce available characters to 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (UCS-2) per segment due to concatenation headers.

What SMS content is prohibited in Solomon Islands?

Solomon Islands prohibits: gambling and betting content, adult content, misleading financial services messages without disclaimers, and healthcare messages with unsubstantiated medical claims. Avoid spam trigger words, excessive punctuation, all-caps text, and URLs from unreputable domains to prevent carrier filtering.

Can I send SMS to landline numbers in Solomon Islands?

No, you cannot send SMS to landline numbers in Solomon Islands. Landlines start with 2 (e.g., +677 2XXXXX), while mobile numbers start with 7 or 8. Attempts to send SMS to landlines will fail with a 400 error (code 21614).

Who are the mobile operators in Solomon Islands?

Solomon Islands has two mobile operators: Our Telekom (Breeze network, government-owned, uses prefix 7) and Bmobile-Vodafone (launched 2010, Vodafone partnership since 2014, uses prefix 8). The SINBIP infrastructure project is currently deploying 161 3G/4G base stations across 35 islands to improve coverage.

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways

1. Compliance Priorities

   • Obtain explicit consent
   • Honor opt-out requests immediately
   • Respect local time zones
   • Maintain clean contact lists

2. Technical Considerations

   • Always use E.164 number formatting
   • Implement proper error handling
   • Monitor delivery rates
   • Test across different carriers

3. Best Practices

   • Keep messages concise
   • Use appropriate language (English/Pijin)
   • Respect cultural considerations
   • Regular testing and monitoring

Next Steps

1. Review the Telecommunications Commission of Solomon Islands (TCSI) guidelines
2. Implement proper consent management systems
3. Set up monitoring and reporting infrastructure
4. Test thoroughly before full deployment

Additional Information

• TCSI Official Website
• Solomon Islands Telecommunications Act
• International SMS Best Practices Guide