---
title: "SMS pricing and sender ID rules in the United Kingdom"
description: "Business SMS in the United Kingdom from $0.0300: operator rates, volume tiers, sender ID registration and ICO + Ofcom rules. Indicative list rates."
canonical: "https://omnichannels.ai/sms-pricing/united-kingdom/"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-10-01"
publisher: "BroadNet Technologies"
brand: "OmniChannels.ai"
---

# SMS pricing and sender ID rules in the United Kingdom

Canonical: https://omnichannels.ai/sms-pricing/united-kingdom/
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 the United Kingdom, from BroadNet's published rate card and regulatory research.

**Short answer:** Business SMS to the United Kingdom starts at $0.0300 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 ICO + Ofcom typically takes Free-form (no formal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE (BT) | Direct | $0.0300 | $0.0264 | $0.0222 | $0.0180 |
| Vodafone UK | Direct | $0.0300 | $0.0264 | $0.0222 | $0.0180 |
| O2 (VMO2) | Direct | $0.0310 | $0.0273 | $0.0229 | $0.0186 |
| Three UK | Direct | $0.0310 | $0.0273 | $0.0229 | $0.0186 |

USD per SMS segment, before taxes and sender ID fees. Rate card reviewed 24 September 2026. Local-currency invoicing in GBP is available.

## SMS rules in the United Kingdom

Summary of Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Office of Communications (Ofcom) (ICO + Ofcom) and operator requirements. Last reviewed 1 October 2026; rules change, so we confirm them for your traffic during onboarding.

- **Sender ID formats:** ICO + Ofcom · EE and Vodafone UK: Alphanumeric, up to 11 chars (numeric long-code also supported)
- **Sender ID registration:** ICO + Ofcom · EE and Vodafone UK: No registry; from 15 July 2027 providers must verify business senders and their sender IDs (Ofcom) Typical lead time: Free-form (no formal registration).
- **Consent (opt-in):** GDPR-compliant opt-in required. Double opt-in is the operator-preferred standard for marketing.
- **Opt-out:** STOP keyword honoured network-wide. Opt-out is one-step and irreversible until the recipient re-consents.
- **Quiet hours and send window:** We have not found a regulator-published time-of-day window for promotional SMS in this market. Agree sending hours with the operator and schedule promotional sends for the recipient's local daytime; transactional traffic runs 24/7.
- **Regulator:** Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and Office of Communications (Ofcom) (ICO + Ofcom). Country code +44.

## 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/
- [Ofcom](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/)
- [ICO](https://ico.org.uk/)
- [Ofcom scam-text rules](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/scam-calls-and-messages/new-rules-to-thwart-text-message-scammers-and-protect-consumers-and-businesses)

## SMS to the United Kingdom: questions

### How much does it cost to send an SMS to the United Kingdom?

Indicative list rates start at $0.0300 per SMS segment, falling to about $0.0183 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 the United Kingdom?

No, there is no formal sender ID registration in the UK. From 15 July 2027 providers must verify business senders and their sender IDs (Ofcom). We confirm the current requirements during onboarding.

### How long does sender ID registration take in the United Kingdom?

There is no pre-registration step in the UK, 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 the United Kingdom?

There is no regulator-published window that we know of in the UK. Agree sending hours with the operator and schedule promotional sends for the recipient's local daytime; transactional traffic runs 24/7.

### Which mobile operators can I reach in the United Kingdom?

EE (BT) (direct route), Vodafone UK (direct route), O2 (VMO2) (direct route), Three UK (direct route).

### What opt-out wording is required in the United Kingdom?

STOP keyword honoured network-wide. Opt-out is one-step and irreversible until the recipient re-consents.

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