Product Overview

Two Way SMS takes advantage of a short code(five digit number) that can be used to both send and receive messages from users. A short code can either be dedicated, meaning that it solely belongs to you or shared, which means that it is used by multiple users and differentiated by a keyword.

Standard Rated short code

With this type of short code, an SMS is charged at the normal rate to send a message, but is free to receive a message for both senders and receivers

Toll Free short code

An end user interacts with this short code free of charge. The owner of this code bears the cost of all SMS that are sent and received on this code.

Use cases

Conduct a Survey

Using mobile as a delivery tool for surveys ensures a wider, more targeted reach to your customers who provide valuable feedback. Short codes provide a great platform to collect live customer insights without hustle.

SMS Marketing

Current and potential users can use short codes to enquire and get information about a new product or feature that you are advertising. This will help you forecast demand for you product or raise awareness

Customer Support

Giving your users multiple channels to get support enhances their experience. Using keywords and short codes, your users can reach out to you with questions and you can get back to them with the relevant help.

All you need to build

# import package import africastalking
#initialize SDK username = "YOUR_USERNAME"
# Initialize a service e.g. SMS sms = africastalking.SMS
# Use the service synchronously response = sms.send("Hello There!", ["+2547XXXXXXXX"])
print(response)

AT Developers

Start your first SMS campaign

We have provided extensive resources to help you quickly build, integrate and test your applications.

See sample code

Pricing

Kenya

Dedicated Short Code

Telco Deposit Set Up Monthly Maintenance per Telco
Safaricom, Airtel, Equitel and Telkom KES 10,000 Free KES 15,000
*prices are 16% VAT exclusive Raising a Toll Free Short Code attracts an extra charge of KES 5,000 (VAT exclusive)

Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
KES 5,000 + 16% VAT KES 2,000 + 16% VAT


Outgoing SMS costs (Toll-free codes)

Basic Plan
KES 0 - 19,999		 Plus Plan
KES 20,000 - 99,999		 Premium Plan
KES 100,000 - 399,999		 Max Plan
KES 400,000+
Safaricom KES 0.8 KES 0.7 KES 0.6 KES 0.4
Airtel Kenya (Local Traffic) KES 0.8 KES 0.8 KES 0.7 KES 0.6
Other Kenyan Telcos KES 0.8 KES 0.8 KES 0.7 KES 0.6

Incoming Messages

Telco Incoming Message Cost
MTN 65.00 UGX
Airtel 65.00 UGX


Dedicated Short Code

1. Paid to UCC

Shortcode Application Entry Fee Annual Fee
USD 295 USD 1,000 USD 2,360

2. Paid to Networks

Network Set Up Monthly Maintenance
MTN Uganda USD 118 USD 59
Airtel USD 118 USD 59

3. Paid to Africa's Talking

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
USD 295 Free
Toll Free Shortcode SMS Cost
Reverse Billing UGX 65


Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
Free UGX 200,000
Toll Free Shortcode SMS Cost
Reverse Billing UGX 65

Incoming Messages

Telco Basic Plan TZS 0 - 499,999 Plus Plan TZS 500,000 - 2,499,999 Max Plan TZS 2,500,000+
Vodacom TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales
Airtel TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales
Zantel TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales
Halotel TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales
TTCL TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales
Tigo TZS 100 TZS 80 Contact Sales


Dedicated Short Code

Dedicated short codes are issued by the regulatory body TCRA. Once issued, it can be integrated with the respective mobile operator. This process can take 2 - 10 weeks to complete


Application

Item Cost Paid to
Short code $2000 TCRA
Application Fee $50 TCRA
Administration Fee TZS 1,600,000 Africa’s Talking

Yearly Recurring

Item Cost Paid to
Short code $3000 TCRA
Application Fee $50 TCRA
Maintainance Fee TZS 3,000,000 Airtel
Administration Fee TZS 1,600,000 Africa’s Talking

Please note: Integration fees do not apply for renewals as the shortcode is already integrated at this stage.


Integration (1st Year one off payment)

Mobile Operator Cost
Vodacom, Tigo Free
Airtel $2000

Toll Free Short code Cost
Reverse Billing TZS 150

Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Cost Item
TZS 198,500 Set up
TZS 79,400 Monthly Maintenance
Toll Free Short code Cost
Reverse Billing TZS 150

Dedicated Shortcode


Service Cost
RURA Application Fee RWF 25000
RURA Shortcode fee See short code categories and their pricing
Africa’s Talking Set up fee RWF 173000 per Telco
Set up fee(One off) RWF 150000 per Telco
Monthly maintenance fee RWF 43300 per Telco




Shared Shortcode (Keyword)

Telco Set up fee Monthly maintenance
MTN Free RWF 13000
Airtel Free RWF 35000


Price per SMS

MTN Tigo & Airtel
Incoming SMS RWF 7 RWF 5
Outgoing SMS See Bulk SMS Pricing

Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
Free NGN 10,000 + 7.5% VAT

Dedicated Short Code

Application Fee Set Up Monthly Maintenance
NGN 200,000 Free NGN 70,000
* A Compulsory deposit of NGN 510,000 is required to cater for MO and MT.

Cost of SMS

Type Cost
Incoming NGN 2.90
Outgoing NGN 2.90

1. Paid to ZICTA

Shortcode Format Application Fee Annual Fee
4 Digit Code
(Used for Two Way SMS Only)		 ZMW 12,000 ZMW 18,000
3 Digit Code
(Used for Two Way SMS and USSD)		 ZMW 12,000 ZMW 30,000

Dedicated Short Code

2. Paid to Africa's Talking

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
ZMW 700 ZMW 1,500

Shared Short Code

2. Paid to Africa's Talking

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
ZMW 700 ZMW 500

Price per SMS

Incoming SMS ZMW 0.4

Dedicated Short Code

Telco Set Up Monthly Maintenance
Airtel Malawi MWK 300,000 MWK 185,000
TNM MWK 300,000 MWK 185,000

Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
Free MWK 31,250

Incoming SMS

SMS Cost MWK 15

Outgoing Messages

Telco Basic
ETB 0 - 5,300		 Plus
ETB 5,301 - 27,600		 Premium
ETB 27,601 - 111,000		 Max
ETB 111,000+
Ethio Telecom ETB 0.15 ETB 0.10 ETB 0.05 ETB 0.04
* Messages will be sent out using the Short Code

Incoming Messages

Telco Basic
ETB 0 - 5,300		 Plus
ETB 5,301 - 27,600		 Premium
ETB 27,601 - 111,000		 Max
ETB 111,000+
Ethio Telecom ETB 0.20 ETB 0.20 ETB 0.15 ETB 0.10


Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fee Monthly Maintenance
ETB 1,440 ETB 1,000


Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Category Set Up Fee Subscription Fee Monthly Maintenance Current Available Code
Bronze Free 1,440 ETB Free 8065 (Bulk) and 8165 (Premium)
Telco Basic Plan
ETB 0 - 5,300		 Plus Plan
ETB 5,301 - 27,600		 Premium Plan
ETB 27,601 - 111,000		 Max Plan
ETB 111,000+
Ethio Telecom ETB 3.50 ETB 3.40 ETB 3.20 ETB 3.00
* Messages will be sent out using the Short Code

Incoming Messages

Telco Basic Plan FCFA 0 - 2,499 Plus Plan FCFA 2,500 - 12,499 Premium Plan FCFA 12,500 - 49,999 Max Plan FCFA 50,000+
MTN FCFA 100 FCFA 90 FCFA 80 FCFA 80
Orange FCFA 100 FCFA 90 FCFA 80 FCFA 80


Dedicated Short Code

Type Short Code Application Fee Regulatory Agency Application Fee ARTCI Annual Fee Annual Maintenace Fee
4-digit Code FCFA 600,000 FCFA 2,000,000 FCFA 2,000,000 FCFA 2,160,000
5-digit Code FCFA 600,000 FCFA 1,000,000 FCFA 1,000,000 FCFA 2,160,000

Shared Short Code (Keyword)

Set Up Monthly Maintenance
FCFA 0 FCFA 77,250
Item Cost
Set Up ZAR 3,500
Monthly Maintenance ZAR 1,125
Item Cost
Incoming SMS ZAR 0.60

Dedicated Short Code (Toll Free)

Price Per SMS (Paid by the Business)

MTN AirtelTigo Vodafone
Incoming SMS GHC 0.053 GHC 0.053 GHC 0.053

Application Fees - NCA

Service Duration Cost
Application Fee One-off GHC 1,500
Annual 4-digit Short Code Fee Annual GHC 500
Annual 3-digit Short Code Fee Annual GHC 2100

Telco Costs

Telco Set Up Cost Monthly Maintenance
MTN GHC 0 GHC 450
AirtelTigo GHC 1,000 GHC 450
Vodafone GHC 0 GHC 450


Shared Short Code (Toll Free)

Price Per SMS (Paid by the Business)

MTN AirtelTigo Vodafone
Incoming SMS GHC 0.053 GHC 0.053 GHC 0.053

Application Fees - Africa’s Talking

Service Duration Cost
Application Fee One-off GHC 1,500

Telco Costs

Telco Set Up Cost Monthly Maintenance
MTN GHC 0 GHC 450
AirtelTigo GHC 0 GHC 450
Vodafone GHC 0 GHC 450


Shared Short Code (Standard Rated)

Price Per SMS (Paid by the End User)

MTN AirtelTigo Vodafone
Incoming SMS GHC 0.53 GHC 0.53 GHC 0.53

Monthly Maintainance

Setup Monthly Maintenance
GHC 1,800 GHC 250
*Available only on MTN, AirtelTigo, and Vodafone

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 550,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 1,100,000
Free (Telco) CFA 550,000
Expresso (Telco) CFA 550,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 550,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) CFA 42,000
Free (Telco) CFA 42,000
Expresso (Telco) CFA 42,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 20
MT SMS CFA 20

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 400,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 1,100,000
Airtel (Telco) CFA 700,000
Moov (Telco) CFA 400,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,100,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) CFA 75,000
Airtel (Telco) CFA 75,000
Moov (Telco) CFA 75,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 20
MT SMS CFA 20

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 400,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 700,000
Malitel (Telco) CFA 400,000
Telecel (Telco) CFA 400,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,100,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) CFA 42,000
Malitel (Telco) CFA 42,000
Telecel (Telco) CFA 42,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 28
MT SMS CFA 28

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 700,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 400,000
MTN (Telco) CFA 550,000
Cellcom (Telco) CFA 550,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 700,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) CFA 75,000
MTN (Telco) CFA 75,000
Cellcom (Telco) CFA 75,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 20
MT SMS CFA 20

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 400,000
MTN (Telco) CFA 400,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 400,000
Camtel (Telco) CFA 400,000
Nextel (Telco) CFA 400,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,100,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
MTN (Telco) CFA 42,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 42,000
Camtel (Telco) CFA 42,000
Nextel (Telco) CFA 42,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS - MTN CFA 40
MT SMS - MTN CFA 40
MO SMS - Other Telcos CFA 20
MT SMS - Other Telcos CFA 20

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,500,000
Econet (Telco) CFA 0
Lumitel (Telco) CFA 0
Smart (Telco) CFA 0

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,500,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Econet (Telco) CFA 159,000
Lumitel (Telco) CFA 117,000
Smart (Telco) CFA 117,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 10
MT SMS CFA 10

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 350,000
MTN (Telco) CFA 350,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,100,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
MTN (Telco) CFA 42,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 10
MT SMS CFA 10

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
ARCE (Regulator) CFA 503,000
Orange (Telco) CFA 800,000
Onatel (Telco) CFA 800,000
Telecel (Telco) CFA 800,000

Annual Fees

Cost
ARCE (Regulator) CFA 550,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) CFA 85,000
Onatel (Telco) CFA 42,000
Telecel(Telco) CFA 42,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 23
MT SMS CFA 23

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 700,000
Togocel (Telco) CFA 700,000

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator CFA 1,100,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Togocel (Telco) CFA 117,000
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS CFA 25
MT SMS CFA 25

Dedicated Short Code (Standard Rated)

Price Per SMS

MTC Telecom Namibia
Outgoing SMS NAD 0.25 NAD 0.25

Telco Costs

Telco Set Up Cost Monthly Maintenance
MTC NAD 4,500 NAD 2,300
Telecom Namibia NAD 4,500 NAD 2,300

Dedicated Short Code (Standard Rated)

Price Per SMS

Econet Vodacom
Outgoing SMS Loti 0.30 Loti 0.30

Telco Costs

Telco Set Up Cost Monthly Maintenance
Econet Loti 5,100 Loti 6,100
Vodacom Loti 5,100 Loti 6,100

Dedicated Short Code (Standard Rated)

Price Per SMS

Eswatini Mobile MTN
Outgoing SMS SZL 0.8 SZL 0.8

Telco Costs

Telco Set Up Cost Monthly Maintenance
Econet SZL 4,500 SZL 3,300
Vodacom SZL 4,500 SZL 3,300

Dedicated Short Code

Set Up Fees

Cost
Regulator EGP 0
Orange (Telco) EGP 0
Vodafone (Telco) EGP 0
Etisalat (Telco) EGP 0
We (Telco) EGP 0

Annual Fees

Cost
Regulator EGP 20,000

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Cost
Orange (Telco) EGP 1,400
Vodafone (Telco) EGP 1,400
Etisalat (Telco) EGP 1,400
We (Telco) EGP 1,400
*Minimum commitment of 1-year

MO and MT Cost

Cost
MO SMS EGP 0
MT SMS EGP 0.2
*MO Cost is covered by the user

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