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Sending OTP and SMS with your brand name in Egypt

A sender ID is the name your customers see instead of a phone number, for example your brand. In Egypt a custom sender name generally has to be registered before it works. We did not find a public rulebook from the regulator (NTRA) [1], so the practical rules below come from providers and aggregators. Confirm each one with the provider you choose.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

What a sender ID is, and why register it

With a sender ID, your message arrives from "YourBrand" instead of a random number. It builds trust and cuts the chance that a customer ignores a login code. The cost is a registration step before you can send.

Providers report that domestic alphanumeric sender IDs must be registered in advance and that unregistered ones may be blocked or replaced [2]. Timelines differ. Some providers state a number of days in our data; others do not.

Providers that support a custom sender name

Computed live from our data, with the approval time and documents each provider states.

Documents to prepare

Providers and aggregators typically ask for the documents below [2]. The exact list is set by the provider and the mobile operators, so use it as a starting point.

  • Commercial register, recent copy.
  • Tax card.
  • A signed authorisation or delegation letter on company letterhead, naming the provider and the sender name requested.
  • Proof that you own or use the brand name, such as a trademark certificate or your website, when the name is a brand rather than the company name.
  • National ID of the authorised signatory.

Choosing the name

  • Use your brand name exactly as customers know it. Keep it short and avoid special characters.
  • Do not copy the name of a bank, a government body or another brand. These are commonly rejected.
  • Register the same name for every provider you may switch to later, if you can, so customers see one name.

OTP versus promotional messages

Operators and providers treat the two types differently, so keep them apart.

  • OTP and transactional: login codes, order confirmations, delivery notices. Sent because the customer just did something. Speed matters more than price.
  • Promotional: offers and campaigns. Providers report that they need prior opt-in, may be restricted to certain hours, and may be blocked at night or on weekends and holidays [2]. Ask your provider for the current window instead of assuming.
  • Use a separate sender ID or route for promotions so a campaign problem cannot delay your login codes.

Providers with an OTP verification API

An OTP API generates, sends and checks the code for you, which saves development time. Compare the price per OTP and what happens when SMS fails.

What to compare

  1. Price per SMS and per OTP, and whether it differs by mobile operator. Check whether VAT is included.
  2. Direct operator connections. Direct routes usually mean better delivery speed than reselling through other aggregators.
  3. Delivery reports, so you can see which messages arrived.
  4. Fallback for OTP, such as voice or WhatsApp, when SMS does not arrive.
  5. Sender ID approval time and the documents required.
  6. Minimum monthly spend, credit expiry and setup fees.
  7. Free trial or sandbox, so you can test before paying.

Checklist

  1. Decide which messages are OTP and which are promotional.
  2. Choose the sender name and prepare the documents above.
  3. Ask two providers for approval time, price per message and delivery reports in writing.
  4. Submit the sender ID request and keep the reference.
  5. Test on all major networks in Egypt and on a phone with a foreign SIM if you serve expats.
  6. Monitor delivery rate and time-to-deliver for OTP weekly.
  7. Add a fallback so a customer is never stuck at login.

Quick answers

  • Can I send from my brand name on day one? Not usually. Plan for the registration time.
  • Why did my OTP arrive late? Routes differ by provider. Ask for delivery reports and compare delivery time.
  • Do I need opt-in for OTP? OTP is a response to a customer action, but promotional messages need prior opt-in. Confirm with your provider.
  • Can I use one sender ID with several providers? Registration is usually per provider, so each one may need its own paperwork.

Questions to ask a provider

  1. Which Egyptian networks do you connect to directly?
  2. What is the typical OTP delivery time you see, and can I get reports for my account?
  3. What happens to my credit if it expires?
  4. Do you block messages outside allowed hours, or do I have to schedule them?

Sources

  1. National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt
  2. Twilio: SMS guidelines for Egypt (aggregator guidance, not NTRA text)

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

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