SMS and WhatsApp business messaging in Colombia
Reach customers in Colombia on WhatsApp, SMS, RCS and voice from one platform. SMS runs over direct routes to Claro, Movistar and Tigo, with messages in Spanish and Law 2300 sending hours in mind. BroadNet is licensed in every country where it operates.
A WhatsApp appointment reminder in Spanish from a sample Bogotá dental clinic. Brand name and messages are sample data.
Short answer
Updated
Business SMS in Colombia follows the CRC's telecom rules, Law 2300 of 2023 and Law 1581 of 2012. Advertising SMS is limited to Monday to Friday 07:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 15:00, never on Sundays or public holidays, and needs prior authorisation. OmniChannels.ai, powered by BroadNet, sends over direct routes to Claro, Movistar and Tigo and adds WhatsApp, RCS, voice and fallback.
What you can send in Colombia with OmniChannels.ai
Direct routes to Claro, Movistar and Tigo
All three Colombian networks are reached over direct routes, with delivery reports per operator.
Law 2300 sending hours
Schedule advertising inside the permitted weekday and Saturday windows, while OTPs and alerts run 24/7.
Spanish copy and encoding
Accented vowels such as á, í, ó and ú move a message to Unicode, which holds 70 characters. The preview shows segments before you send.
WhatsApp Business API
BroadNet is an official Meta Business Solution Provider. Send approved templates, media and buttons, and run support conversations in the shared inbox.
One inbox for every channel
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS replies and email land in one thread per customer, with assignment and tags.
Channel fallback
Send on WhatsApp first and fall back to SMS when a message is not delivered, with one webhook format for statuses.
REST API and SMPP
Connect your systems through the REST API, or use SMPP 3.4 for high-volume sending. Test access goes to your own verified numbers.
What to know before sending in Colombia
A practical summary, not legal advice. CRC and operator requirements change, so we confirm the current position for your traffic during onboarding.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulator | The Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones (CRC) is the telecom regulator. Law 2300 of 2023 and Law 1581 of 2012 add rules on contact hours and personal data. |
| Sender ID | Set by the operators: alphanumeric where supported, or a numeric long code or short code. Plan 5 to 10 business days, and longer for short codes. |
| Sending hours | Advertising SMS: Monday to Friday 07:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 15:00, never on Sundays or public holidays. Transactional traffic runs 24/7. |
| Consent | Law 1581 requires prior, informed authorisation that you can later prove. Keep the source, timestamp and wording for each opt-in. |
| Opt-out and excluded numbers | Offer a simple opt-out and honour it across campaigns. Law 2300 ties into the CRC register of excluded numbers, so check your lists against it. |
| Use approved templates for business-initiated messages. Meta charges per delivered message by category and market. |
How to launch business messaging in Colombia
- 1
Pick channels and senders
Decide which use cases run on WhatsApp and which on SMS, and which sender type each needs.
- 2
Confirm sender setup
Share your company details and sample messages. We confirm requirements for Claro, Movistar and Tigo and prepare any filing with you.
- 3
Connect WhatsApp
Onboard through Meta Embedded Signup and submit templates in Spanish.
- 4
Set up consent and hours
Capture prior authorisation, apply opt-outs to one suppression list and schedule advertising inside the Law 2300 windows.
- 5
Test and launch
Send test messages on all three networks, compare delivery reports per operator and launch.
Is this the right setup for your Colombia traffic?
A good fit when
- You send OTPs, alerts or promotions to Claro, Movistar and Tigo users.
- You need advertising hours handled in the scheduler.
- You write in Spanish and want segment counts to stay predictable.
- Your customers expect to reach you on WhatsApp.
Good to know before you start
- Advertising cannot go out on Sundays or public holidays, or outside the permitted hours.
- Sender requirements are set by the operators, and alphanumeric senders are not accepted everywhere.
- Marketing needs prior authorisation and a working opt-out.
- Rules change, and we confirm current requirements at onboarding.
SMS list rates in Colombia
Indicative price per SMS segment by monthly volume tier, averaged across operators, from BroadNet's published rate card. The more you send, the lower the rate.
Indicative list prices in USD before taxes and sender ID fees, reviewed September 24, 2026. Your quote confirms the final rate.
| Operator | Up to 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Claro Colombia | $0.0346 |
| Movistar Colombia | $0.0323 |
| Tigo Colombia | $0.0300 |
Colombia business messaging questions
Is bulk SMS legal in Colombia?
Yes, provided you use a legitimate route, hold the data subject's authorisation, respect the permitted hours for advertising and honour opt-outs and the excluded-numbers register. Rules come from Law 2300 of 2023, Law 1581 of 2012, the CRC and the operators.
What hours can I send advertising SMS in Colombia?
Law 2300 of 2023 limits advertising SMS to Monday to Friday between 07:00 and 19:00 and Saturday between 08:00 and 15:00, never on Sundays or public holidays. Transactional messages such as OTPs run 24/7.
What is the Registro de Números Excluidos?
It is the CRC register where people enrol their numbers to avoid advertising. Check your lists against it and confirm the current process on the CRC site, since operators may filter excluded numbers.
Do I need consent to send promotional SMS in Colombia?
Treat it as required. Law 1581 of 2012 requires prior, informed authorisation, obtained in a way that can be consulted later, unless an exception applies. Keep the wording, timestamp, channel and number for each opt-in.
Can I use a short code in Colombia?
Short codes and numeric long codes are available alongside alphanumeric IDs where supported. Short codes suit high-volume or two-way programmes. The operators set the requirements, and the typical lead time is 5 to 10 business days.
Why does my Spanish SMS split into two parts?
Letters such as á, í, ó and ú are outside the default GSM 7-bit alphabet, so one of them makes the message Unicode, which holds 70 characters per message and 67 per part. Test the final copy in a character counter.
Which Colombian networks does OmniChannels.ai reach?
Claro Colombia, Movistar Colombia and Tigo Colombia, all over direct routes. Test every campaign on all three.
Guides on this topic
- SMS & OTPBulk SMS in Colombia: Law 2300, CRC, Sender ID and Consent11 min read
- SMS & OTPSMS Character Limits: GSM-7, Unicode, Arabic and Emoji Explained8 min read
- ComplianceOpt-in and Consent for WhatsApp, SMS and Email Campaigns8 min read
Explore more of the platform
Plan your Colombia messaging with us
Tell us your channels, sender types and Spanish copy. We'll confirm operator requirements, sending hours and WhatsApp onboarding.