Since 7 April 2025, A2P SMS to the Philippines must use an alphanumeric sender ID registered with the mobile operators: messages from unregistered sender IDs are blocked. Registration is done per network (Smart, Globe and DITO) with a letter of authorization, and as of 2026 shortened URLs are blocked on all sender IDs.
Rules last checked: October 2026.
Sender ID registration
Each operator runs its own registration, normally through your SMS provider, and the paperwork depends on whether you are a local or an international sender. Operators treat a company as international when it is incorporated or headquartered abroad, and Smart also when it is majority foreign-owned. Providers typically ask for:
- a letter of authorization (LOA) for each network, signed by the company that owns the sender ID;
- for local companies, registration documents such as the SEC filing and articles of incorporation, or the DTI certificate for a sole proprietorship;
- the company website or Facebook page, sample content, traffic type (OTP, transactional, promotional) and expected monthly volume;
- for banks and financial brands, their regulatory licences and proof of the right to use the brand name;
- for gaming, the PAGCOR licence (only licensed local operators can send gaming content).
LOAs expire, typically after one year (two years for some international registrations on Smart), so diarise renewals. International providers quote about two weeks for provisioning. The general process is explained in sender ID registration.
Sender ID types and replacement
| Sender type | Status (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Registered alphanumeric | Required for A2P; up to 11 characters, linked to the brand |
| Unregistered or dynamic alphanumeric | Blocked since 7 April 2025 |
| Numeric or generic sender IDs | Not accepted (stated by DITO) |
| International long codes | Blocked |
| Local long codes | Mainly for replies to messages the user started |
Sender IDs containing TEST, MESSAGE or SMS, or names that imitate a network (for example SMART or SUN), are refused. See SMS sender ID types for the formats in general.
Links, content and opt-in
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered Globe, Smart and DITO to block text messages containing clickable links, URL shorteners and QR codes, aimed at scam messages, and the SIM Registration Act now ties every SIM to an identity. For A2P senders this means, as of 2026:
- shortened URLs are blocked on all sender IDs; use the full domain;
- links are only delivered from a registered alphanumeric sender, and some operators require banking messages with URLs to use allowlisted templates;
- phone numbers in the text and content that looks person-to-person are filtered;
- loans, real estate, political content, alcohol, tobacco, adult content and controlled substances are blocked by providers' rules.
Commercial and promotional messages may only go to subscribers who opted in, with an easy way to opt out. Send during daytime hours unless the message is urgent. Filipino and English fit in GSM-7; emoji or special characters switch the message to Unicode, see GSM-7 vs Unicode encoding.
Mobile networks and delivery
The three mobile operators are Smart Communications, Globe Telecom and DITO Telecommunity. Because each one registers and filters separately, check that your sender is approved on all three. Routes that still offer unregistered senders after the 2025 cutoff are grey routes with a high risk of blocking and false delivery reports.
OTP traffic
Put the company name in every OTP (Smart requires it), avoid links, and register the sender for OTP traffic. Banks and other institutions supervised by the central bank (BSP) were told to move away from SMS OTP for high-risk transactions by mid-2026 under the anti-scam law, so financial senders should expect SMS OTP to become a secondary or fallback channel. For everyone else, SMS remains the main OTP channel; see OTP SMS best practices.
VoIPMatcher sources A2P SMS routes from its carriers and manages them, and buyers and sellers never see each other. Tell us your sender ID, which networks it is registered on and your traffic type. See the Philippines SMS destination page or request a Philippines SMS route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send SMS in the Philippines without sender ID registration?
No. Since 7 April 2025, A2P messages from unregistered or dynamic alphanumeric sender IDs are blocked, and international long codes are blocked too. Register your sender ID with each network, Smart, Globe and DITO, normally through your SMS provider. Routes that still offer unregistered senders are grey routes with a high risk of blocking.
How long is a sender ID LOA valid in the Philippines?
Letters of authorization typically expire after one year, or two years for some international registrations on Smart, so keep track of renewal dates. You need a separate LOA for each network, signed by the company that owns the sender ID. International providers quote about two weeks for provisioning a new registration.
Can I send links in SMS in the Philippines?
Only full links from a registered alphanumeric sender. The NTC ordered Globe, Smart and DITO to block messages with clickable links, URL shorteners and QR codes aimed at scams, and as of 2026 shortened URLs are blocked on all sender IDs. Some operators also require banking messages with URLs to use allowlisted templates.
Do banks in the Philippines still use SMS OTP?
Banks and other institutions supervised by the central bank (BSP) were told to move away from SMS OTP for high-risk transactions by mid-2026 under the anti-scam law. Financial senders should expect SMS OTP to become a secondary or fallback channel. For other businesses, SMS remains the main OTP channel.
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