Greenland (Denmark) SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Greenland (Denmark) SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Greenland, as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has a well-developed mobile telecommunications infrastructure despite its remote location and sparse population. The market is dominated by TELE-POST, the primary telecommunications provider. While SMS remains a crucial communication channel, particularly for business and authentication purposes, OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are gaining popularity, especially in urban areas with reliable internet connectivity.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Greenland

Greenland supports standard SMS features with some limitations, primarily following Danish telecommunications standards while adapting to local conditions and infrastructure requirements.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Greenland for A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging. 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 of 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, or 70 characters for Unicode (UCS-2) encoding.
Encoding considerations: Both GSM-7 and UCS-2 encodings are supported, with messages automatically using the appropriate encoding based on content.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This conversion ensures compatibility across all mobile networks while still allowing rich media content to be shared through linked web pages.

Recipient Phone Number Compatibility

Number Portability

Number portability is not available in Greenland. This means mobile numbers remain tied to their original network operator.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not possible in Greenland. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a failed delivery and a 400 response with error code 21614 through most SMS APIs.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Greenland (Denmark)

As part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland follows both Danish telecommunications regulations and EU data protection standards, including GDPR. The primary regulatory authority is the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen), while TELE-POST oversees local telecommunications infrastructure.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Written or electronic consent must be obtained before sending marketing messages
• Consent records must be maintained and easily accessible
• Purpose of communication must be clearly stated during opt-in
• Double opt-in is recommended for marketing campaigns

Best Practices for Documentation:

• Store timestamp and source of consent
• Maintain detailed records of opt-in methods
• Keep consent logs for minimum of 2 years
• Enable easy access to consent history for audit purposes

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• STOP, STOPP, and AFMELD must be supported in both Danish and Greenlandic
• HELP/HJÆLP commands must provide information in both languages
• All opt-out keywords must be processed immediately
• Confirmation messages should be sent in the same language as the opt-out request

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

While Greenland doesn't maintain a separate Do Not Call registry, businesses must:

• Maintain their own suppression lists
• Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
• Regularly clean contact databases
• Implement proper opt-out tracking systems

Time Zone Sensitivity

Greenland observes UTC-2 or UTC-3 depending on location. Best practices include:

• Sending messages between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
• Avoiding messages on Sundays and public holidays
• Considering seasonal variations in daylight hours
• Limiting urgent messages outside business hours

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Greenland (Denmark)

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Fully supported
Registration requirements: No pre-registration required, dynamic usage supported
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved as specified

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

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

Sender ID preservation: Yes, original sender ID is preserved
Provisioning time: Immediate to 24 hours
Use cases: Ideal for transactional messages and two-factor authentication

Short Codes

Support: Not supported in Greenland
Provisioning time: N/A
Use cases: N/A

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Prohibited Content:

• Gambling and lottery services
• Adult content
• Cryptocurrency promotions
• Unauthorized financial services

Regulated Industries:

• Financial services require additional disclaimers
• Healthcare messages must comply with privacy regulations
• Insurance products need clear terms and conditions

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Filtering Rules:

• URLs must be pre-approved
• Short URLs and redirects are blocked
• Keywords related to restricted industries trigger filters

Tips to Avoid Blocking:

• Use approved URL formats
• Avoid spam trigger words
• Include clear sender identification
• Maintain consistent sending patterns

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Greenland (Denmark)

Messaging Strategy

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

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 2-3 messages per week per recipient
• Respect local holidays and cultural events
• Avoid sending during off-hours
• Space out bulk campaigns to prevent network congestion

Localization

• Support both Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) and Danish
• Consider cultural nuances in message content
• Use appropriate date and time formats
• Include language preference in opt-in process

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs in real-time
• Send confirmation of opt-out
• Maintain unified opt-out lists across campaigns
• Regular audit of opt-out compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across all major device types
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular testing of opt-out functionality

SMS API integrations for Greenland (Denmark)

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust REST API for sending SMS to Greenland. Authentication uses account SID and auth token credentials.

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() {
  try {
    // Send message with proper Greenland formatting
    const message = await client.messages.create({
      body: 'Your message here', // Keep under 160 chars for single SMS
      from: 'YourCompany', // Alphanumeric sender ID
      to: '+299XXXXXXX' // Greenland number format
    });
    
    console.log(`Message sent successfully: ${message.sid}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
  }
}

Sinch

Sinch offers a REST API with OAuth2 authentication for secure SMS delivery.

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() {
  try {
    const response = await sinchClient.sms.batches.send({
      from: 'YourBrand', // Alphanumeric sender ID
      to: ['+299XXXXXXX'], // Array of recipients
      body: 'Your message content',
      // Optional parameters for delivery reports
      deliveryReport: 'summary'
    });
    
    console.log('Batch ID:', response.id);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Sinch API error:', error);
  }
}

MessageBird

MessageBird provides a straightforward API for SMS integration with comprehensive delivery reporting.

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

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

async function sendSMS() {
  const params = {
    originator: 'CompanyName', // Your sender ID
    recipients: ['+299XXXXXXX'],
    body: 'Your message here',
    // Optional parameters
    reportUrl: 'https://your-callback-url.com/delivery-reports'
  };

  messagebird.messages.create(params, (err, response) => {
    if (err) {
      console.error('Error:', err);
      return;
    }
    console.log('Message sent:', response.id);
  });
}

Plivo

Plivo offers a feature-rich API with detailed delivery insights.

import { Client } from 'plivo';

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

async function sendSMS() {
  try {
    const response = await client.messages.create({
      src: 'YourBrand', // Sender ID
      dst: '+299XXXXXXX', // Destination number
      text: 'Your message content',
      // Optional parameters
      url: 'https://your-callback-url.com/status'
    });
    
    console.log('Message UUID:', response.messageUuid);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Plivo API error:', 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 batch APIs for bulk sending
• Consider queue systems like Redis or RabbitMQ for high volume

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive error logging
• Monitor delivery receipts
• Set up automated alerts for failure thresholds
• Store message metadata for troubleshooting

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways

1. Compliance Priorities

   • Obtain explicit consent
   • Support opt-out mechanisms
   • Follow time zone restrictions
   • Maintain proper documentation

2. Technical Considerations

   • Use appropriate sender ID formats
   • Implement proper error handling
   • Monitor delivery rates
   • Test thoroughly before scaling

3. Best Practices

   • Localize content
   • Respect sending hours
   • Maintain clean contact lists
   • Monitor engagement metrics

Next Steps

1. Review the Danish Business Authority's telecommunications guidelines
2. Consult with legal counsel on GDPR compliance
3. Set up test accounts with preferred SMS providers
4. Implement proper consent management systems

Additional Information

Official Resources:

• Danish Business Authority: www.erhvervsstyrelsen.dk
• TELE-POST Greenland: www.telepost.gl
• EU GDPR Portal: gdpr.eu

Industry Guidelines:

• Mobile Marketing Association Guidelines
• GSMA SMS Guidelines
• European Electronic Communications Code (EECC)