Messaging Providers and Sender IDs
Connect and manage your SMS gateway providers, configure alphanumeric Sender IDs, track prepaid balances, and switch aggregators safely.
Configure messaging delivery
To configure SMS gateway delivery in your Nukta dashboard, navigate to Settings → Communications → SMS → Gateways.
The messaging provider marketplace is country-aware and allows one active provider per channel. Credential fields adapt automatically to the selected provider's API specifications, feeding live credentials to Nukta's background dispatch services.
Supported SMS providers catalog
Nukta includes pre-built integrations for major regional and international SMS gateways:
| Provider | Region | Required Credential Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Nukta SMS | Kenya / Platform Default | No external API keys required. Includes in-app prepaid credit balance and instant top-ups. |
| Advanta SMS | Kenya | API Key, Partner ID, and Shortcode / Sender ID. |
| Africa’s Talking | Pan-African | Username, API Key, and optional custom Sender ID. |
| Beem | East Africa | API Key, Secret Key, and registered Sender ID. |
| BulkSMS | Global | Token ID (Username) and Token Secret (Password). |
| Infobip | Global | API Key, Base URL (e.g. y312m.api.infobip.com), and Sender ID. |
| MobileSasa | Kenya | API Key and Sender ID. |
| Pandora SMS | East Africa | Username, Password, and Sender ID. |
| TalkSasa | East Africa | API Key and Sender ID. |
| Texin Bulk SMS | Kenya | API Key and Sender ID. |
| TextBee | Global via Android | API Key and Registered Device ID (utilizes an on-premise Android handset as an SMS gateway). |
| Twilio | Global | Account SID, Auth Token, and From Number / Sender ID. |
| Arkesel | Ghana / West Africa | API Key and Sender ID. |
| SMS Online GH | Ghana / West Africa | API Key and Sender ID. |
| UGSMS | Uganda | Username and Password. |
| iOtec SMS | Uganda | Client ID and API Key. |
| NextSMS | Tanzania | Username, Password, and Sender ID. |
| KiboNet | Tanzania | API Key, API Secret, and Sender ID. |
The gateway catalog filters automatically by your ISP's registered operating country. Region-specific gateways (such as NextSMS and KiboNet in Tanzania) only appear when your workspace country is set accordingly.
Step-by-step provider connection
- Complete merchant onboarding and account verification in your provider's developer console.
- In your Nukta dashboard, navigate to Settings → Communications → SMS → Gateways.
- Select your provider from the catalog.
- Input your required API credentials (keys, tokens, and endpoints).
- Click Save Settings to set the provider as active.
- Send a Controlled Test: Dispatch a test message to a team-owned phone number and verify that delivery confirms in both Nukta and your provider's external delivery dashboard.
Registering and using Sender IDs
A Sender ID is the custom brand name (such as YOURISP) displayed as the SMS sender on customer mobile phones where telecom operators support alphanumeric branding:
- Regulatory Approval: Configuring a Sender ID in the Nukta form does not grant carrier authorization. Telecommunications regulations in most jurisdictions require formal carrier whitelisting (often requiring business registration certificates and authorization letters).
Prepaid balance tracking and low-balance alerts
- In-App Balance: For Nukta SMS, your current prepaid credit balance is visible directly on the gateway card. You can configure automated low-balance alert thresholds to notify designated administrator phone numbers before units run out.
- External Gateway Balance: Third-party gateways (such as Africa's Talking or Twilio) manage billing and credit replenishment through their own web consoles.
- Large Broadcast Preparation: Before scheduling high-volume marketing campaigns, verify that your gateway account holds sufficient balance to cover the estimated recipient segment total.
Switching messaging providers safely
When transitioning between SMS aggregators (e.g., migrating from a regional aggregator to Twilio):
- Clear Pending Queues: Allow existing scheduled campaigns or queued dispatches to finalize on the old provider.
- Archive Old Credentials: Securely record your previous gateway configuration before replacement.
- Connect and Verify the New Gateway: Save new credentials and verify end-to-end delivery with a controlled test dispatch.
- Confirm Sender ID Mapping: Verify that your custom Sender ID is active and authorized under the new provider account.
- Re-Enable Automated Templates: Once verified, review automated customer notification templates under Settings → Communications → SMS → Templates.
- Avoid Resending Stale Failures: Do not bulk-resend older failed messages through a newly connected provider without reviewing message content and timestamps to prevent spamming customers with obsolete notices.
For sending immediate one-off or bulk texts, see SMS. For scheduling customer announcements, see Broadcast Campaigns. For automated billing receipts and router outage alerts, see Notifications and Templates.