CAMEROON SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

CAMEROON SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Cameroon has a growing mobile market with increasing SMS usage for both personal and business communications. The country's telecommunications sector is dominated by major operators including MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp are gaining popularity, particularly in urban areas, SMS remains a crucial communication channel due to its reliability and universal reach. Android devices dominate the mobile market, making up approximately 85% of mobile devices in use.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Cameroon

Cameroon offers standard SMS capabilities with support for concatenated messages and alphanumeric sender IDs, though certain features like two-way SMS are not supported.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not currently supported in Cameroon through major SMS providers. This limitation affects businesses looking to implement interactive SMS campaigns or automated response systems.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenated messages are supported, though availability may vary based on 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 being particularly important for messages containing French accented characters or local language content.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This conversion ensures broader compatibility and delivery success rates while still allowing rich media content to be shared via linked URLs.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Cameroon. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operators, which can simplify message routing and delivery.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Cameroon. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in delivery failure and may trigger error responses from SMS providers (e.g., Twilio returns a 400 response with error code 21614).

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in CAMEROON

SMS communications in Cameroon are regulated by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL) and the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART). These bodies oversee compliance with telecommunications regulations and data protection requirements. Businesses must comply with mandatory registration fees and undergo regular audits, which typically add 10-15% to base messaging costs.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Written or electronic confirmation must be obtained before sending marketing messages
• Records of consent must be maintained and easily accessible
• Consent must specify the types of messages the user will receive
• Purpose of communication must be clearly stated at opt-in

Best Practices for Documentation:

• Maintain detailed consent logs including timestamp, source, and scope
• Store opt-in records for at least 2 years
• Implement double opt-in for marketing campaigns
• Provide clear terms and conditions at signup

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• All SMS campaigns must support standard STOP and HELP commands
• Keywords must be supported in both French and English
• Common commands include:
  • STOP/ARRÊTER
  • HELP/AIDE
  • INFO
• Responses to these commands must be immediate and free of charge

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

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

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Implement automated STOP command processing
• Regularly clean contact lists to remove unsubscribed numbers

Time Zone Sensitivity

Cameroon operates in the WAT (West Africa Time) zone (UTC+1). Best practices include:

• Sending messages between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
• Avoiding messages during religious holidays
• Respecting weekend quiet hours (after 2:00 PM on Fridays)
• Emergency messages may be sent outside these hours if necessary

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in CAMEROON

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Supported with pre-registration
Registration requirements: International pre-registration required, takes approximately 3 weeks
Sender ID preservation: Yes, preserved when properly registered
Special considerations: MTN network requires pre-registration for all alphanumeric IDs

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International: International long codes supported; domestic not available
Sender ID preservation: Yes for international numbers
Provisioning time: Immediate for international numbers
Use cases: Transactional messages, alerts, and notifications
Restrictions: Numeric sender IDs not supported on MTN network

Short Codes

Support: Available through major carriers
Provisioning time: Variable, typically 4-8 weeks
Use cases:

• High-volume marketing campaigns
• Two-factor authentication
• Customer service
• Premium rate services

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Prohibited Content:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or explicit material
• Illegal substances or services
• Political campaign messages without proper authorization
• Cryptocurrency promotions

Regulated Industries:

• Financial services require additional compliance documentation
• Healthcare messages must maintain patient confidentiality
• Insurance products need regulatory approval

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Rules:

• URLs must be from approved domains
• Message content screened for prohibited terms
• Character limit enforcement
• Spam pattern detection

Tips to Avoid Blocking:

• Avoid excessive punctuation
• Use registered shortened URLs
• Maintain consistent sending patterns
• Include clear business identifier
• Avoid common spam trigger words

Best Practices for Sending SMS in CAMEROON

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-action
• Use personalization tokens thoughtfully
• Maintain consistent brand voice
• Include business name in message

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 4-5 messages per month per recipient
• Respect religious observances (particularly Ramadan)
• Avoid sending during national holidays
• Space out messages to prevent fatigue

Localization

• Support both French and English
• Consider local dialects for specific regions
• Use appropriate date and time formats
• Respect cultural sensitivities
• Include local contact information

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Maintain centralized opt-out database
• Confirm opt-out with acknowledgment message
• Regular audit of opt-out lists
• Train staff on opt-out procedures

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across MTN and Orange networks
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular A/B testing of message content
• Document and analyze failure patterns

SMS API integrations for CAMEROON

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Cameroon. Integration requires an account SID and auth token for authentication.

import * as Twilio from 'twilio';

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

// Function to send SMS to Cameroon
async function sendSMSToCameroon(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    // Ensure number is in E.164 format for Cameroon (+237)
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+237') ? to : `+237${to}`;

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      from: senderId, // Registered alphanumeric sender ID
      to: formattedNumber,
    });

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

Sinch

Sinch offers SMS capabilities with strong delivery rates in Cameroon. Authentication uses a service plan ID and API token.

import axios from 'axios';

class SinchSMSService {
  private readonly baseUrl: string;
  private readonly headers: Record<string, string>;

  constructor(servicePlanId: string, apiToken: string) {
    this.baseUrl = `https://sms.api.sinch.com/xms/v1/${servicePlanId}/batches`;
    this.headers = {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiToken}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    };
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string, senderId: string): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const payload = {
        from: senderId,
        to: [to],
        body: message
      };

      const response = await axios.post(this.baseUrl, payload, {
        headers: this.headers
      });

      console.log('Message sent successfully:', response.data);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Sinch SMS error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Cameroon with straightforward API integration.

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

class MessageBirdService {
  private client: MessageBird;

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

  async sendSMS(
    to: string,
    message: string,
    senderId: string
  ): Promise<void> {
    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      this.client.messages.create({
        originator: senderId,
        recipients: [to],
        body: message,
        type: 'sms'
      }, (err, response) => {
        if (err) {
          console.error('MessageBird error:', err);
          reject(err);
        } else {
          console.log('Message sent:', response);
          resolve();
        }
      });
    });
  }
}

Plivo

Plivo offers SMS capabilities with good coverage in Cameroon.

import * as plivo from 'plivo';

class PlivoSMSService {
  private client: plivo.Client;

  constructor(authId: string, authToken: string) {
    this.client = new plivo.Client(authId, authToken);
  }

  async sendSMS(
    to: string,
    message: string,
    senderId: string
  ): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const response = await this.client.messages.create({
        src: senderId,
        dst: to,
        text: message,
        url_strip_query_params: false
      });

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

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Default rate limits vary by provider (typically 1-10 messages per second)
• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
• Use queuing systems (Redis, RabbitMQ) for high volume
• Batch messages when possible (up to 100 recipients per request)
• Monitor throughput and adjust sending patterns accordingly

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive error logging
• Track delivery receipts (DLRs)
• Monitor common error codes:
  • Invalid number format
  • Network errors
  • Rate limit exceeded
  • Invalid sender ID
• Store message metadata for troubleshooting
• Implement automated alerts for error thresholds

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways:

• Pre-register alphanumeric sender IDs
• Implement proper opt-out handling
• Respect time zone restrictions
• Support both French and English
• Monitor delivery rates and errors

Next Steps:

1. Review ART regulations at www.art.cm
2. Consult with local legal counsel
3. Register sender IDs with chosen provider
4. Implement testing across major networks
5. Set up monitoring and reporting

Additional Resources:

• MINPOSTEL Guidelines: www.minpostel.gov.cm
• Cameroon Telecommunications Law
• MTN Cameroon Business Solutions
• Orange Cameroon API Documentation

Industry Best Practices:

• Mobile Marketing Association Guidelines
• GSMA Messaging Principles
• Local carrier documentation for SMS services