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Sender IDs ​

A sender ID is the name or number that recipients see as the sender of your SMS message. It appears in the "From" field of the message.

Default Sender ID ​

When you create a Galatext account, you get the default sender ID GALATEXT for testing purposes.

From: GALATEXT
Message: Your verification code is 482916.

⚠️ The default GALATEXT sender ID is intended for testing. For production use, request a custom sender ID that reflects your brand.

Custom Sender IDs ​

Custom sender IDs display your brand name and improve message recognition and trust.

From: YOURBRAND
Message: Your verification code is 482916.

Requirements ​

RequirementDetails
Length1–11 characters
CharactersLetters A-Z, numbers 0-9 only
FormatNo spaces or special characters
ContentMust represent a real business or brand
UniquenessMust not impersonate other brands

How to Request ​

  1. Log in to the Galatext Dashboard
  2. Navigate to SMS → Sender IDs
  3. Click Request New Sender ID
  4. Enter your desired sender ID (e.g., YOURBRAND)
  5. Provide a brief justification for its use
  6. Submit for approval

Approval Process ​

StepDescriptionTimeframe
1Submit requestInstant
2Compliance review1–2 business days
3Carrier approval2–5 business days
4ActiveUpon approval

💡 Business verification (KYC documents) may speed up approval. Submit your business registration documents along with the request.

Approval Guidelines ​

Sender IDs may be rejected if they:

  • Contain offensive or prohibited content
  • Impersonate government agencies or other entities
  • Are too generic (e.g., SERVICE, INFO, ALERT)
  • Violate telecom regulations in the target country

Sender ID by Country ​

Different countries have different sender ID regulations:

CountryCustom Sender IDNumeric Sender IDNotes
Kenya✅ Supported✅ SupportedCarriers may override with alphanumeric
Nigeria✅ Supported❌ Not allowedDynamic sender ID available
Uganda✅ Supported❌ Not allowedRegistration required
Tanzania✅ Supported❌ Not allowedBrand registration needed
Rwanda✅ Supported❌ Not allowedStandard alphanumeric only
Ghana✅ Supported❌ Not allowedMust be pre-approved

Numeric Sender IDs ​

Some countries support numeric sender IDs (short codes or long numbers) for two-way messaging:

From: 22005
Message: Reply STOP to unsubscribe.

Numeric sender IDs are particularly useful for:

  • Two-way SMS conversations
  • Opt-out management
  • Service notifications

Requesting a Numeric Sender ID ​

Numeric sender IDs require additional setup. Contact support with:

  • Desired number or short code
  • Target countries
  • Expected message volume
  • Use case description

Managing Sender IDs ​

View Your Sender IDs ​

bash
curl -X GET https://api.galatext.com/api/sms/send-apier-ids \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "sid_abc123",
      "senderId": "YOURBRAND",
      "status": "ACTIVE",
      "type": "ALPHANUMERIC",
      "countries": ["KE", "NG", "UG"],
      "createdAt": "2025-01-15T10:30:00Z"
    }
  ]
}

Set Default Sender ID ​

Configure a default sender ID for your account in the dashboard. If no senderId is specified in an API call, the default will be used.

Best Practices ​

  • Use brand names — Customers trust recognizable sender names
  • Test first — Verify delivery on target networks before full launch
  • Multiple IDs — Use different sender IDs for different message types (OTP vs. marketing)
  • Monitor deliverability — Track delivery rates per sender ID
  • Regional compliance — Ensure your sender ID complies with local regulations

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