# A2P SMS, OTP, and sender ID rules in Bahrain

> BroadNet delivers A2P SMS and OTP in Bahrain over direct connections to Batelco, stc Bahrain, and Zain Bahrain, with TRA-BH sender ID registration in 5-7 business days.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/coverage/bahrain
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-10-21
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

Direct binds with Batelco, stc Bahrain, and Zain Bahrain with TRA-BH sender ID registration handled in-house.

## Key facts

- Regulator: TRA-BH (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain)
- Dialling code: +973
- MCC: 426
- Mobile subscribers: 2.0M
- Sender-ID lead time: 5-7 business days
- Time to launch: Live in 5–15 business days from test-access request to production
- Typical OTP latency: 2.95 s
- Typical delivery rate, operator-direct: 99.5%
- SMS price band: BHD 0.006 (indicative list rates, reviewed 2026-09-24)
- Billing currencies: BHD, USD, AED

## Operators

| Operator | MNC | Route | Grade | A2P rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batelco | 426-01 | Direct | A+ | BHD 0.006 |
| stc Bahrain | 426-04 | Direct | A+ | BHD 0.006 |
| Zain Bahrain | 426-02 | Direct | A | BHD 0.006 |

## Technical facts for Bahrain

Network codes, message lengths and sender-ID rules in one table. Segment lengths are the GSM standard values (3GPP TS 23.038).

| Technical facts | |
|---|---|
| Mobile country code (MCC) | 426 |
| Dialling code | +973 |
| Operators (MCC-MNC) | Batelco · 426-01; stc Bahrain · 426-04; Zain Bahrain · 426-02 |
| SMS length, GSM-7 (Latin alphabet) | 160 characters in a single SMS; 153 per part when concatenated |
| SMS length, UCS-2 (Arabic, Cyrillic and other scripts) | 70 characters in a single SMS; 67 per part when concatenated |
| Regulator | TRA-BH (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain) |
| Sender-ID rules | TRA-BH sender ID pre-registration required. Arabic + Latin scripts both at parity. |
| Sender-ID lead time | 5-7 business days |

## Pricing

| Band | Transactional | Promotional | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go | BHD 0.0060 | BHD 0.0073 | List rate up to 100K messages/month |
| Growth · 100K+ | BHD 0.0053 | BHD 0.0064 | Auto-tier discount |
| Volume · 1M+ | BHD 0.0044 | BHD 0.0054 | Includes quarterly route review |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Direct operator pricing + signed SLA |

## Sender ID

TRA-BH sender ID pre-registration required. Arabic + Latin scripts both at parity.

TRA-BH sender ID registration: 5-7 business days, one ID per use case per entity.

## Rules

- **TRA-BH registration**: Sender IDs pre-registered with TRA-BH. BroadNet files and renews.
- **Bahrain PDPL**: Law 30/2018 governs PII. Mature framework — cross-border restrictions, breach notification within 72 hours.
- **Opt-out required**: Every promotional SMS must include opt-out language honoured network-wide.
- **Arabic + Latin parity**: UCS-2 routes match GSM-7 SLA.

## Compliance

Bahrain PDPL (Law 30/2018) is one of the most mature in the GCC. Cross-border restrictions, breach notification, and recipient rights all enforced.

## Sample A2P template

```text
Your BroadNet code is 528914. Do not share.
```

Arabic:

```text
رمز BroadNet هو 528914. لا تشاركه.
```

## Related

- https://www.broadnet.me/regulations/bahrain
- https://www.broadnet.me/pricing/sms/bahrain