# A2P SMS regulations in Lebanon

> In Lebanon, A2P sender IDs are registered directly with the two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, under the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Personal data falls under Law 81/2018.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/regulations/lebanon
- Language: en
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-20
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

## Who regulates A2P SMS in Lebanon?

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is the sector regulator. Sender IDs are registered with the two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, which terminate A2P traffic. BroadNet has been directly connected to both since the company was founded in Beirut in 2003.

- Regulator: TRA (tra.gov.lb).
- Mobile operators: Alfa and Touch, both connected directly.
- Data protection: Law 81/2018.
- Telecom law: Law No. 431 of 2002, which established the TRA.

## How does sender-ID registration work?

Sender IDs are registered directly with Alfa and Touch through BroadNet's operator account team. Registration typically takes 3–5 business days.

- Registered with each operator: Alfa and Touch.
- Filed by BroadNet's operator account team.
- Typical lead time: 3–5 business days.

## Consent and data protection: Law 81/2018

Law 81/2018 on electronic transactions and personal data governs electronic communications and the handling of personal data such as mobile numbers. Marketing requires consent and record-keeping.

- Law 81/2018 covers electronic communications and personal data.
- Consent required for marketing.
- Keep records of that consent.

## Arabic, Latin and French content

All three scripts are handled. Arabic uses UCS-2 encoding by default, which fits 70 characters in a single SMS. French text with diacritics can pass as GSM-7 through Touch's enhanced character set.

- Arabic: UCS-2 by default.
- Latin and French: GSM-7.
- French diacritics pass via Touch's enhanced character set.

## Lebanon rules: promotional vs. transactional SMS

|  | Promotional / marketing | Transactional (OTP, alerts) |
|---|---|---|
| Sender ID registered with Alfa and Touch | Yes | Yes |
| Consent and records required | Yes | No |
| Law 81/2018 applies to personal data | Yes | Yes |

## Frequently asked questions

### Who regulates SMS in Lebanon?

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is the sector regulator. Sender IDs are registered with the two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch.

### Do I need to register sender IDs in Lebanon?

Yes. Sender IDs are registered directly with Alfa and Touch. BroadNet's operator account team files them, typically in 3–5 business days.

### What are the penalties for non-compliance?

We do not quote a fine amount here because we have not found one published by the TRA for A2P SMS; check tra.gov.lb for the current framework. BroadNet registers your sender IDs with both operators.

## Related

- [Lebanon coverage](https://www.broadnet.me/coverage/lebanon)
- [All regulations](https://www.broadnet.me/regulations)

## Technical facts for Lebanon

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) | 415 |
| Dialling code | +961 |
| Operators (MCC-MNC) | Alfa · 415-01; Touch · 415-03 |
| 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 (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) |
| Sender-ID rules | Sender IDs are registered directly with Alfa and Touch via BroadNet's operator account team. Arabic, Latin, and French scripts all handled. |
| Sender-ID lead time | 3-5 business days |

## How to register a sender ID in Lebanon

What to prepare, who approves it and how long it takes. Send us the documents below and BroadNet coordinates the registration with the operators, the regulator or the registry, as the market requires.

- Who approves: The two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, under the TRA. The ID is registered directly with each operator.
- Typical lead time: 3–5 business days

### Document checklist

- [ ] Trade licence
- [ ] Signed authorisation letter
- [ ] Sample message templates
- [ ] Traffic-type declaration

### Steps

1. Choose the sender ID: alphanumeric, up to 11 characters. Arabic, Latin and French content are all handled.
2. Send the documents to BroadNet. BroadNet's operator account team registers the ID directly with Alfa and Touch.
3. Registration typically takes 3–5 business days.
4. For marketing, obtain consent and keep records of it (Law 81/2018 on electronic transactions and personal data).

### Common reasons for rejection

- Generic IDs such as INFO or ALERT
- A brand that does not match the trade licence
- Templates that mix promotional and transactional intent

### Official sources

- [TRA — Telecommunications Regulatory Authority](https://www.tra.gov.lb/)

Requirements are set by the regulator and the operators and can change. Check the official sources, or ask our team, before you file.

## Sources

- [TRA — Telecommunications Regulatory Authority](https://www.tra.gov.lb/)