Country-specific restrictions are guidelines you need to follow in the countries where you send SMS traffic to. You can find information about country-specific restrictions in over 200 countries in the module on our pricing subpage.
Read on to understand what the different types of restrictions cover, what happens if you don’t follow them as well as how the module on country-restrictions works.
In several countries, there are specific restrictions that must be observed if you want to send A2P SMS messages to recipients in that country. In the vast majority of cases, the restrictions are only relevant if you want to send messages about specific topics, such as gambling or cryptocurrency.
However, some countries may have restrictions that affect anyone who wants to send traffic to those countries. These may include restrictions on Sender IDs, sending times or requirements to use a virtual number.
Country-specific restrictions can include:
On our pricing subpage, you can find a module with information on country-specific restrictions in over 200 countries.
Please note that the terms and conditions for broadcasts in individual countries are constantly changing and we cannot be held responsible for information that is not correct. However, we strive to ensure that all information about restrictions is up to date and accurate for all countries.
Below we go through selected parts of the lookup module and how to understand them.
Two-way SMS service via GatewayAPI: In this field you can see if two-way SMS communication is supported and what you need to do to set it up.
Sender ID: In this field you can see whether numeric Sender IDs and alphanumeric Sender IDs are supported. In some countries, they are overwritten by telecom operators and in other countries only certain number ranges may be used.
Restrictions & guidelines: In this field you can find information about whether operators filter certain types of content, as well as other special rules or exceptions you should be aware of. Some networks do not provide handset DLRs (delivery reports), which means they cannot confirm if the message has been delivered on the recipient’s mobile device.
In most cases, your messages will be blocked by the telecom companies’ filters and you will receive an error message in your dashboard. In extreme cases, you may be fined by local regulators.
If you do not register your Sender ID in the countries where it is required, you may risk your Sender ID (e.g. brand name) being overwritten. Please note that this only happens in countries where Sender ID registration is required.
Restrictions may be due to local laws, cultural considerations, regulations imposed on the telecom industry or to protect against spam and unwanted messages.