Custom Sender IDs

Custom sender IDs let you send SMS from your business name instead of a random phone number. When customers see "SHOPNAME" instead of a generic number, they're more likely to open and trust your message.

Why custom sender IDs matter

When recipients see a message from a recognizable brand name, they:

Open more messages, Open rates increase by up to 40%
Trust your brand, Branded messages feel more professional and legitimate
Reduce spam reports, Customers recognize your brand and don't mark messages as spam
Improve engagement, Branded messages get higher response rates

Without a custom sender ID, your messages appear to come from a random number, which many customers ignore or mark as spam.

How sender IDs work

A sender ID is a text string (up to 11 characters) that appears as the sender name on recipient phones. Instead of seeing a phone number like "+255712345678", customers see your business name like "SHOPNAME" or "MYBANK".

Example:

Without custom sender ID:

From: +255712345678
Message: Your order is ready for pickup

With custom sender ID:

From: SHOPNAME
Message: Your order is ready for pickup

Request a custom sender ID

Custom sender IDs require approval from Tegasms and the mobile carriers. The process is simple:

Log in to your Tegasms dashboard
Go to "Settings" or "Sender IDs"
Click "Request New Sender ID"
Enter your desired sender ID (up to 11 characters)
Provide your business name and registration details
Submit for approval

Tegasms reviews your request and submits it to the carriers. Approval typically takes 1-3 business days.

note

Sender IDs must be alphanumeric (letters and numbers only). Special characters and spaces are not allowed. Examples: SHOPNAME, MYBANK, DELIVERY1.

Sender ID requirements

To get a custom sender ID approved:

Business registration, Provide your business name and registration number
Use case, Explain what type of messages you'll send (marketing, OTP, notifications, etc.)
Professional use, Sender IDs are for legitimate business communication only
Compliance, Messages must comply with local regulations and anti-spam laws

Tegasms and the carriers reject sender IDs that:

Impersonate government agencies or banks
Use misleading or deceptive names
Are intended for spam or phishing
Violate local regulations

Managing your sender IDs

Once approved, you can use your custom sender ID immediately:

Log in to your dashboard
Go to "Send SMS" or "New Campaign"
Select your sender ID from the dropdown
Compose and send your message

You can request multiple sender IDs for different purposes (e.g., "SHOP" for marketing, "SHOP-OTP" for authentication).

Sender ID best practices

Use your brand name, Choose a sender ID that customers recognize:

Good: SHOPNAME, MYBANK, DELIVERY
Bad: PROMO1, ALERT, SYSTEM

Keep it short, Shorter sender IDs are easier to remember:

4-8 characters is ideal
Maximum 11 characters allowed

Be consistent, Use the same sender ID for all messages from your business so customers recognize you

Match your brand, Use your actual business name or a well-known abbreviation

Pricing

Custom sender IDs are free to request and use. You pay the standard SMS rates regardless of whether you use a custom sender ID or a phone number.

See Pricing for SMS rates.

Troubleshooting

Sender ID not approved, Ensure your business details are accurate and your use case is legitimate. Resubmit with more details if needed.

Messages still showing a number, If your sender ID is approved but messages still show a number, contact support. Some carriers may require additional configuration.

Want to change your sender ID, Request a new sender ID and use it for new campaigns. Old campaigns will continue using the original sender ID.

tip

For high-volume senders, you can request multiple sender IDs for different message types (marketing, OTP, alerts). This helps organize your campaigns and improves deliverability.