Kyrgyzstan SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features

Kyrgyzstan SMS Market Overview

Market Conditions: Kyrgyzstan has a growing mobile market with several key operators including Beeline, Megacom, and O!. SMS remains a vital communication channel, particularly for business messaging and authentication services. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are popular for personal communication, SMS maintains its importance for business-critical communications due to its reliability and universal reach.

Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan supports most standard SMS features including concatenated messages and alphanumeric sender IDs, though with some carrier-specific limitations.

Two-way SMS Support

Two-way SMS is not supported in Kyrgyzstan according to current network capabilities. Businesses should plan their messaging strategies around one-way communication only.

Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)

Support: Yes, concatenation is supported by most carriers, with the notable exception of Beeline.
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 Cyrillic characters.

MMS Support

MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This ensures compatibility across all 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 Kyrgyzstan. This means phone numbers remain tied to their original carrier, which helps ensure more reliable message routing.

Sending SMS to Landlines

Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in a 400 response error (code 21614), and no charges will be incurred.

Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Kyrgyzstan

As of March 2024, Kyrgyzstan has implemented new rules for mobile communication services, focusing on user registration and transparency. While specific SMS marketing regulations are still evolving, businesses must follow general best practices and international standards for messaging compliance.

Consent and Opt-In

Explicit Consent Requirements:

• Obtain clear, documented opt-in consent before sending any marketing messages
• Maintain detailed records of when and how consent was obtained
• Include clear terms of service and privacy policy information during opt-in
• Provide transparent information about message frequency and content type

HELP/STOP and Other Commands

• Support for HELP and STOP commands is required in both English and Russian
• Common local language keywords include:
  • STOP/СТОП - for opting out
  • HELP/ПОМОЩЬ - for assistance
  • INFO/ИНФО - for service information
• Messages should be processed in both Latin and Cyrillic characters

Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries

While Kyrgyzstan 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

Time Zone Sensitivity

Kyrgyzstan follows GMT+6 timezone (KGT). Best practices include:

• Sending messages between 9:00 AM and 8:00 PM local time
• Avoiding messages during major holidays and weekends unless urgent
• Considering Ramadan timing adjustments for relevant audiences

Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Kyrgyzstan

Alphanumeric Sender ID

Operator network capability: Fully supported across networks
Registration requirements: Pre-registration not required
Sender ID preservation: Yes, sender IDs are preserved as specified
Dynamic usage: Supported, allowing flexible sender ID changes

Long Codes

Domestic vs. International:

• Domestic long codes not supported
• International long codes supported but with limitations
• Sender ID preservation: No, international numbers may be replaced with generic alphanumeric IDs

Use cases:

• Transactional messaging
• Two-factor authentication
• Customer support communications

Short Codes

Support: Limited availability
Provisioning time: Not specified in current regulations
Use cases: Not commonly used for standard messaging campaigns

Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases

Restricted Industries and Content:

• Gambling and betting services
• Adult content or services
• Unauthorized financial services
• Political campaign messages without proper authorization
• Cryptocurrency promotions

Content Filtering

Known Carrier Rules:

• Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
• URLs should be from reputable domains
• Avoid excessive punctuation and special characters

Best Practices to Avoid Filtering:

• Use clear, professional language
• Avoid URL shorteners when possible
• Include company name in sender ID
• Maintain consistent sending patterns

Best Practices for Sending SMS in Kyrgyzstan

Messaging Strategy

• Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
• Include clear call-to-action
• Use personalization tokens thoughtfully
• Maintain consistent branding across messages

Sending Frequency and Timing

• Limit to 2-3 messages per week per recipient
• Respect local holidays and cultural events
• Maintain consistent sending schedules
• Avoid sending during off-hours

Localization

• Support both Russian and Kyrgyz languages
• Use proper character encoding for local languages
• Consider cultural nuances in message content
• Offer language preference selection during opt-in

Opt-Out Management

• Process opt-outs within 24 hours
• Maintain centralized opt-out database
• Confirm opt-out requests with acknowledgment message
• Regular audit of opt-out list compliance

Testing and Monitoring

• Test across all major carriers (Beeline, Megacom, O!)
• Monitor delivery rates by carrier
• Track engagement metrics
• Regular testing of opt-out functionality

SMS API integrations for Kyrgyzstan

Twilio

Twilio provides a robust SMS API for sending messages to Kyrgyzstan. 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
);

// Function to send SMS to Kyrgyzstan
async function sendSMSToKyrgyzstan(
  to: string,
  message: string,
  senderId: string
): Promise<void> {
  try {
    // Ensure proper formatting for Kyrgyzstan numbers
    const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+996') ? to : `+996${to}`;

    const response = await client.messages.create({
      body: message,
      from: senderId, // 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 direct carrier connections in Kyrgyzstan. Implementation example:

import axios from 'axios';

class SinchSMSClient {
  private readonly apiToken: string;
  private readonly serviceId: string;
  private readonly baseUrl = 'https://eu.sms.api.sinch.com';

  constructor(apiToken: string, serviceId: string) {
    this.apiToken = apiToken;
    this.serviceId = serviceId;
  }

  async sendSMS(to: string, message: string): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const response = await axios.post(
        `${this.baseUrl}/xms/v1/${this.serviceId}/batches`,
        {
          from: 'YourBrand',
          to: [to],
          body: message,
        },
        {
          headers: {
            'Authorization': `Bearer ${this.apiToken}`,
            'Content-Type': 'application/json',
          },
        }
      );

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

MessageBird

MessageBird provides reliable SMS delivery to Kyrgyzstan:

import { MessageBird } from 'messagebird';

class MessageBirdClient {
  private client: MessageBird;

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

  async sendSMS(
    recipient: string,
    message: string,
    senderId: string
  ): Promise<void> {
    const params = {
      originator: senderId,
      recipients: [recipient],
      body: message,
      datacoding: 'unicode', // For supporting Cyrillic characters
    };

    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
      this.client.messages.create(params, (err, response) => {
        if (err) {
          reject(err);
        } else {
          resolve(response);
        }
      });
    });
  }
}

Plivo

Plivo's API implementation for Kyrgyzstan messaging:

import plivo from 'plivo';

class PlivoSMSClient {
  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('Message sent:', response);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Plivo error:', error);
      throw error;
    }
  }
}

API Rate Limits and Throughput

• Default rate limit: 100 messages per second
• Batch processing recommended for large volumes
• Implement exponential backoff for retry logic
• Queue messages during peak hours

Error Handling and Reporting

• Implement comprehensive logging
• Monitor delivery receipts
• Track common error codes:
  • 4001: Invalid number format
  • 4002: Network not available
  • 4003: Message content rejected

Recap and Additional Resources

Key Takeaways

1. Compliance Priorities

   • Obtain explicit consent
   • Support opt-out mechanisms
   • Respect time zone restrictions

2. Technical Considerations

   • Use Unicode encoding for local language support
   • Implement proper error handling
   • Monitor delivery rates

3. Best Practices

   • Maintain clean contact lists
   • Regular testing across carriers
   • Document all consent and opt-outs

Next Steps

1. Review the State Communications Agency regulations
2. Implement proper consent management
3. Set up monitoring and reporting systems
4. Test message delivery across all major carriers

Additional Information

• Official Resources:
  • State Communications Agency
  • Telecom Regulations Portal
• Industry Guidelines:
  • Mobile Operators Association of Kyrgyzstan
  • GSMA Guidelines for SMS Services

Contact Information:

• Technical Support: Available through your chosen SMS provider
• Regulatory Inquiries: State Communications Agency helpdesk
• Carrier Relations: Through respective mobile operator business departments