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Alphanumeric Sender ID KYC Requirements

Updated over 2 weeks ago

Getting started

If your business uses Alphanumeric Sender IDs to send messages—whether for OTPs, alerts, or brand communication—you’ll need to complete a Know Your Customer (KYC) process before your Sender ID can be registered. This is part of a global push to protect mobile users from SMS fraud, spoofing, and smishing attacks.

Why KYC is required to register Alphanumeric Sender IDs

KYC is no longer optional in many countries. Mobile carriers and regulators increasingly require Sender IDs to be tied to verified, legitimate entities to:

  • Reduce phishing and impersonation attempts

  • Increase trust in branded messaging

  • Maintain high-quality delivery routes

Failure to comply with these requirements can result in message rejections, blocked traffic, or even blacklisting of your Sender ID.

At Bandwidth, we support a broad range of destinations, and that means we also navigate the varying regulatory and mobile network operator (MNO) requirements for you. To streamline this, we operate a two-tier KYC model: KYC and KYC+. You can find all the destinations we reach as well as whether a destination is KYC or KYC+ in our Global Messaging Carrier Reach Matrix.

What you need to know about Bandwidth’s KYC and KYC+ requirements

To meet global compliance obligations, Bandwidth applies one of two KYC levels based on the destination country and MNO requirements.

KYC (Basic)

  • Our standard KYC level, required for most Sender ID registrations, includes:

    • Requested Sender ID

    • Brand name

    • Brand Website

    • Registered business address

    • Valid business registration document (e.g., certificate of incorporation or VAT number)

    • Destination Country/Countries

    • Traffic Type

    • Origin of Traffic

    • Traffic Volume

    • Content Sample

    • Use Case

    • Acknowledgement that the Bandwidth Customer submitting the Sender ID information is either the Brand Owner or is authorized to use and register the Sender ID on behalf of the Brand Owner

This level of KYC is typically sufficient for most countries where baseline verification is mandated.

KYC+ (Enhanced)

  • KYC+ is required in jurisdictions with more stringent regulatory or carrier requirements. It includes everything from basic KYC plus one or more of the following, depending on the destination:

    • Letter of Authorization (LOA) and/or a No Objection Certificate (NOC)

    • Chain of Authorization LOAs (if registering through an aggregator or reseller to confirm the relationship with the Brand Owner of the Sender ID)

    • Proof of brand ownership (e.g., trademark certificate, domain validation)

    • Website or app screenshots showing active use of the brand name

    • Sender-specific message templates and URLs for whitelisting or traffic use cases

  • Since each country and MNO has its own evolving standards, the exact mix of documents required under KYC+ may vary over time. The exact requirements and registration procedures will be communicated at the time of submission to ensure accuracy and timeliness of the information provided.

What this means for you

When you register an Alphanumeric Sender ID with Bandwidth:

  1. We’ll assess the destination country and advise whether KYC or KYC+ is required.

  2. You submit the required documents through our secure onboarding flow here.

  3. We handle the submission to local carriers and regulators, and notify you once your Sender ID is approved or if further information is needed.

We’ll keep you informed at each step and help you avoid unnecessary delays by flagging potential gaps in advance.

Questions?

If you're unsure what applies to your target countries or what qualifies as valid documentation, please reach out to your Bandwidth Compliance Team. We actively monitor registration changes worldwide so you don’t have to.

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