International SMS Compliance: UK & Turkey Regulations

Overview

This article details two important international SMS compliance regulations that impact users sending messages to the United Kingdom or Turkey. These rules apply to accounts using the CRM's built-in phone system or connected external telephony providers. If you send SMS messages to recipients in these countries, you must take action to ensure your messages are delivered.

United Kingdom: International Long Codes Blocked

If you send SMS messages to UK mobile numbers, your message deliverability is at risk due to recent regulatory changes. UK network operators have implemented strict rules governing the types of phone numbers that can be used to send messages.

What Changed

Starting June 1, 2023, UK carriers began blocking SMS messages sent from international long codes (phone numbers from countries other than the UK). These numbers were originally intended for person-to-person communication, and their use for business messaging (Application-to-Person or A2P) is now restricted.

Further requirements were introduced in 2024. All UK long codes now require a regulatory compliance bundle and Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. By mid-2024, full enforcement was in place, meaning traffic from unregistered UK long codes and all international long codes is blocked.

What You Need to Do

To ensure your messages reach UK recipients, follow these steps:

1. Stop Using International Long Codes: Immediately cease sending SMS from non-UK numbers to UK recipients.
2. Use an Approved Sender Type: Switch to a compliant method:
   • UK Long Code (Local Number): Requires KYC verification and regulatory approval.
   • Alphanumeric Sender ID: A text-based sender name (e.g., YourBrand) for one-way messaging.
   • Short Code: A dedicated number for high-volume or two-way messaging, though provisioning can take several weeks.
3. Register Your Numbers: If using a UK long code, you must submit the required regulatory compliance documentation and complete the KYC process through your telephony provider's console.
4. Monitor Your Message Logs: Regularly check your SMS logs to identify any messages sent from non-UK numbers to UK numbers and update your sending configurations to prevent failures.

Turkey: SMS Containing URLs Now Blocked

Effective April 1, 2026, Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has mandated that all international A2P SMS messages containing URLs, hyperlinks, or shortened links sent to Turkish recipients will be blocked.

What's Happening

Turkish mobile operators are now filtering and blocking any business-related SMS sent from international numbers that includes a web address. This applies to all message types, including order confirmations, appointment reminders, and one-time passcodes (OTPs). Blocked messages will fail to deliver and may result in error code 30007.

What You Need to Do

To maintain SMS deliverability to Turkey, take the following actions immediately:

1. Remove All URLs from Messages: Review and edit any SMS templates, workflows, or campaigns that target Turkish recipients. You must remove:
   • Full website addresses (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com)
   • Shortened or tracking links
   • Any text formatted as a hyperlink
2. Update Your Templates and Workflows: Access your CRM sub-account and locate all messaging automations directed at Turkey. Replace any URLs with alternative contact methods, such as a phone number or email address. Save and republish the updated templates.
3. Test Delivery: Send a test message without a URL to a Turkish number to confirm successful delivery.

If your business is legally registered within Turkey and you have a critical need to send URLs via SMS, you must establish a direct relationship with a BTK-licensed local messaging provider, such as Posta Güvercini, to use a compliant local pathway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these regulations affect all types of SMS messages?

Yes, the UK regulations affect all A2P SMS traffic. The Turkey regulation specifically blocks international A2P SMS that contain any form of web link, regardless of the message's purpose.

What happens if I don't comply?

Non-compliant messages will be blocked by carrier filters and will not be delivered to the intended recipient. In the case of Turkey, there is also a potential for fines from the local operators.

Where can I manage my number registrations and compliance?

Compliance bundles and KYC verification are handled directly within the console of your connected telephony provider (e.g., the provider linked to your CRM's phone system). You must complete these steps there to enable compliant sending.