---
title: "SMS pricing and sender ID rules in South Africa"
description: "Business SMS in South Africa from $0.0280 per message: operator rates, volume tiers, sender ID registration (Free-form (no pre-registration)) and ICASA rules."
canonical: "https://omnichannels.ai/sms-pricing/south-africa/"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-10-01"
publisher: "BroadNet Technologies"
brand: "OmniChannels.ai"
---

# SMS pricing and sender ID rules in South Africa

Canonical: https://omnichannels.ai/sms-pricing/south-africa/
Language: en
Publisher: OmniChannels.ai by BroadNet Technologies

Indicative rates by operator and volume, sender ID registration, consent rules and quiet hours for business SMS to South Africa, from BroadNet's published rate card and regulatory research.

**Short answer:** Business SMS to South Africa starts at $0.0280 per message segment on BroadNet's published rate card, with lower rates from 100,000 messages a month. 4 mobile operators are covered, all on direct routes. Sender ID registration with ICASA typically takes Free-form (no pre-registration).

## Rates by operator and volume tier

| Operator | Route | Up to 100,000 | 100,000 to 1 million | 1 to 5 million | 5 million and more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vodacom | Direct | $0.0314 | $0.0276 | $0.0232 | $0.0188 |
| MTN South Africa | Direct | $0.0302 | $0.0266 | $0.0223 | $0.0181 |
| Cell C | Direct | $0.0291 | $0.0256 | $0.0215 | $0.0175 |
| Telkom Mobile | Direct | $0.0280 | $0.0246 | $0.0207 | $0.0168 |

USD per SMS segment, before taxes and sender ID fees. Rate card reviewed 24 September 2026.

## SMS rules in South Africa

Summary of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and operator requirements. Last reviewed 1 October 2026; rules change, so we confirm them for your traffic during onboarding.

- **Sender ID formats:** ICASA · Vodacom and MTN South Africa: Alphanumeric, up to 11 chars (numeric long-code on select networks)
- **Sender ID registration:** ICASA · Vodacom and MTN South Africa: Not required under the WASPA Code of Conduct; the sender ID must identify the business Typical lead time: Free-form (no pre-registration).
- **Consent (opt-in):** Verifiable opt-in required, with timestamped consent records retained for at least 12 months and produced on regulator request.
- **Opt-out:** Every promotional message must include STOP / opt-out wording. DND-registry suppression applied automatically where the regulator runs one.
- **Quiet hours and send window:** The WASPA Code of Conduct (section 16.8) bars direct marketing on Sundays and public holidays, on Saturdays before 09:00 or after 13:00, and on other days between 20:00 and 08:00. Transactional 24/7.
- **Regulator:** Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Country code +27.

## Sources

- List rates: BroadNet's published SMS rate card, reviewed 24 September 2026. Indicative, excluding taxes; your quote confirms the final price. Cost estimator: https://omnichannels.ai/pricing/estimator/
- [Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)](https://www.icasa.org.za/)
- [Information Regulator](https://inforegulator.org.za/)
- [WASPA Code of Conduct](https://waspa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WASPA-Code-of-Conduct-17.15-clean.pdf)

## SMS to South Africa: questions

### How much does it cost to send an SMS to South Africa?

Indicative list rates start at $0.0280 per SMS segment, falling to about $0.0178 at 5 million messages a month. Prices exclude taxes and sender ID fees; your quote confirms the final rate.

### Do I need to register a sender ID in South Africa?

No, there is no formal sender ID registration in South Africa. Not required under the WASPA Code of Conduct; the sender ID must identify the business. We confirm the current requirements during onboarding.

### How long does sender ID registration take in South Africa?

There is no pre-registration step in South Africa, so there is no registration lead time. We confirm the current timeline for your sender ID during onboarding.

### When can I send promotional SMS in South Africa?

Promotional window: Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 · Sat 09:00–13:00 local time; not on public holidays. The WASPA Code of Conduct (section 16.8) bars direct marketing on Sundays and public holidays, on Saturdays before 09:00 or after 13:00, and on other days between 20:00 and 08:00. Transactional 24/7.

### Which mobile operators can I reach in South Africa?

Vodacom (direct route), MTN South Africa (direct route), Cell C (direct route), Telkom Mobile (direct route).

### What opt-out wording is required in South Africa?

Every promotional message must include STOP / opt-out wording. DND-registry suppression applied automatically where the regulator runs one.

Data: BroadNet published rate card and regulatory research, reviewed 1 October 2026. URL: https://omnichannels.ai/sms-pricing/south-africa/