SMS and WhatsApp business messaging in Mexico
Reach customers in Mexico on WhatsApp, SMS, RCS and voice from one platform. SMS runs over direct routes to Telcel, AT&T Mexico and Movistar, with messages in Spanish. BroadNet is licensed in every country where it operates.
A WhatsApp order update in Spanish from a sample Mexico City electronics store. Brand name and messages are sample data.
Short answer
Updated
Mexico's telecom regulator is now the CRT, which replaced the IFT in 2025. Sender requirements are set by the operators: an alphanumeric sender where the network supports it, or a numeric long code or short code. Marketing needs verifiable opt-in and a one-step STOP or SAIR opt-out. OmniChannels.ai, powered by BroadNet, sends over direct routes to Telcel, AT&T and Movistar and adds WhatsApp, RCS, voice and fallback.
What you can send in Mexico with OmniChannels.ai
Direct routes to Telcel, AT&T and Movistar
All three Mexican networks are reached over direct routes, with delivery reports per operator.
Spanish copy and encoding
Accented letters such as á, í, ó and ú move a message to Unicode, which holds 70 characters. The preview shows encoding and segments before you send.
Sender setup and consent
We confirm the sender type each network accepts for your use case and help you keep verifiable consent records.
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 Mexico
A practical summary, not legal advice. CRT and operator requirements change, so we confirm the current position for your traffic during onboarding.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Regulator | The Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) replaced the IFT after the telecom law published on 16 July 2025. Older guides that say IFT predate that change. |
| Sender ID | Set by the operators: alphanumeric where the network supports it, or a numeric long code or short code. Plan 5 to 10 business days, and longer for short codes. |
| Promotional messages | Send marketing only with verifiable opt-in. Consumers can also register with Profeco's REPEP to refuse advertising, so check lists before each send. |
| Consent and opt-out | Keep consent records in line with Mexico's data-protection law. A STOP or SAIR keyword is honoured network-wide and applied across the operator. |
| Sending hours | We have not found a regulator-published time-of-day window for promotions. Agree hours with the operator and schedule for the recipient's local daytime. |
| Use approved templates for business-initiated messages. Meta charges per delivered message by category and market. |
How to launch business messaging in Mexico
- 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 the requirements for Telcel, AT&T and Movistar and prepare any filing with you.
- 3
Connect WhatsApp
Onboard through Meta Embedded Signup and submit templates in Spanish.
- 4
Set up consent and opt-out
Capture consent with timestamps and apply STOP and SAIR replies to one suppression list.
- 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 Mexico traffic?
A good fit when
- You send OTPs, alerts or promotions to Telcel, AT&T and Movistar users.
- You write in Spanish and want segment counts to stay predictable.
- Your customers expect to reach you on WhatsApp.
- You want delivery reports broken down by operator.
Good to know before you start
- Sender requirements are set by the operators, and alphanumeric senders are not accepted everywhere.
- Short codes need operator approval and a longer setup.
- Marketing needs consent, and people in the REPEP must be excluded.
- Rules change, and we confirm current requirements at onboarding.
SMS list rates in Mexico
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 |
|---|---|
| Telcel | $0.0327 |
| AT&T Mexico | $0.0303 |
| Movistar Mexico | $0.0280 |
Mexico business messaging questions
Who regulates SMS in Mexico?
The Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) is the telecom regulator. It took over from the IFT after the Ley en Materia de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión was published on 16 July 2025. Profeco handles consumer protection.
Do I need to register a sender ID in Mexico?
Requirements depend on the operator and the sender type. Alphanumeric senders work where the network supports them, with numeric long codes and short codes as the alternative. We confirm the current requirements during onboarding.
Can I send marketing SMS in Mexico without consent?
Treat verifiable opt-in as mandatory. Mexican data-protection law requires a privacy notice and consent, and consumers can refuse advertising through Profeco's REPEP. Include an opt-out and suppress anyone who opts out.
How long does it take to start sending SMS to Mexico?
Our published lead time for Mexico sender setup is 5 to 10 business days, which is a typical range and not a guarantee. Operator review and the sender type you choose can extend it.
How many characters fit in one SMS in Spanish?
A GSM 7-bit message holds 160 characters, but á, í, ó and ú are outside that alphabet, so one of them switches the message to Unicode, which holds 70 characters per message and 67 per part.
Should I use SMS or WhatsApp for OTPs in Mexico?
Use both through fallback. WhatsApp authentication templates suit users with the app and data, while SMS reaches any handset. A common pattern is to send on WhatsApp first and fall back to SMS if the code is not delivered.
Which Mexican networks does OmniChannels.ai reach?
Telcel, AT&T Mexico and Movistar Mexico, all over direct routes. Test every campaign on all three networks.
Guides on this topic
- SMS & OTPA2P SMS in Mexico: Rules, Operators and Sender Types9 min read
- WhatsAppBest WhatsApp Business API Provider in Mexico (CDMX)9 min read
- SMS & OTPSMS Character Limits: GSM-7, Unicode, Arabic and Emoji Explained8 min read
Explore more of the platform
Plan your Mexico messaging with us
Tell us your channels, sender types and Spanish copy. We'll confirm operator requirements, WhatsApp onboarding and fallback.