Messaging Per Second or Message Parts Per Second (MPS) is the rate at which messages can be sent or processed by the WhatsApp channel. It measures the platform's capacity to handle high volumes of messages efficiently, ensuring timely delivery without delays. Understanding MPS is essential for optimizing performance and maintaining seamless communication during peak times.
Standard MPS limits for WhatsApp are:
- Request rate limit: 10 requests per second; each request can contain multiple messages.
- Cloud API limit: 80 messages per second.
- On-premise API: 13 messages per second.
These limits apply to all message campaign types and messages.
Customizable limits
Cloud API limits can be customized based on Meta's configurations, potentially increasing the MPS limits. If you meet the eligibility requirements, your WhatsApp business number can be upgraded to 1,000 messages per second (MPS) at no additional cost.
Higher Throughput Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the 1,000 MPS limit, you should fulfill the following requirements:
- Business phone number: It must initiate conversations with an unlimited number of unique customers within a rolling 24-hour period.
- API registration: The business phone number must be registered with the Cloud API. It must first be migrated to the Cloud API if registered with the on-premise API.
- Quality rating: The business phone number must have a medium or higher quality rating.
The Priority list
Certain types of messages have priority for the WhatsApp queue process:
- Replies, Automation Messages, and Confirmation Messages
- Campaign Messages
Examples of MPS duration
Scenario 1
If you have an allocated outbound limit of 80 MPS (Cloud API) and send 80 messages in a second, all 80 messages will be dispatched simultaneously.
Scenario 2
If you have an allocated outbound limit of 80 MPS and place 160 messages in a second, the first 80 messages will be sent simultaneously, and the remaining 80 messages will be queued and executed at the next available MPS interval.
Scenario 3
Assume that you have an allocated outbound limit of 80 MPS. You want to launch two campaigns simultaneously. Messages from both campaigns are added to the queue and sent at the MPS speed until the queue is cleared. Campaign A places 400 messages, and Campaign B places 320 messages. Both campaigns will be processed at 80 messages per second, with messages from both campaigns interleaved. The total processing time will be (400 + 320) / 80 = 9 seconds.