Check phone number activity, carrier details, line type and more.
Sweden SMS Best Practices, Compliance, and Features
Sweden SMS Market Overview
Locale name:
Sweden
ISO code:
SE
Region
Europe
Mobile country code (MCC)
240
Dialing Code
+46
Market Conditions: Sweden has a highly developed mobile market with near-universal smartphone penetration. While OTT messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are popular, SMS remains a crucial channel for business communications, particularly for authentication, notifications, and marketing. The market is dominated by major operators including Telia, Tele2, and Telenor, with strong infrastructure supporting reliable message delivery.
Key SMS Features and Capabilities in Sweden
Sweden offers comprehensive SMS capabilities including two-way messaging, concatenated messages, and number portability, making it an ideal market for business messaging.
Two-way SMS Support
Two-way SMS is fully supported in Sweden with no special restrictions. This enables interactive messaging campaigns and customer service applications through SMS.
Concatenated Messages (Segmented SMS)
Support: Yes, concatenation is fully supported across Swedish networks. Message length rules: 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding, 70 characters for UCS-2 encoding before splitting occurs. Encoding considerations: GSM-7 supports standard Latin alphabet, while UCS-2 enables full Unicode support for special characters and non-Latin alphabets.
MMS Support
MMS messages are automatically converted to SMS with an embedded URL link. This ensures compatibility across all devices while still enabling rich media content delivery through clickable links.
Recipient Phone Number Compatibility
Number Portability
Number portability is available in Sweden, allowing users to keep their phone numbers when switching carriers. This feature does not affect SMS delivery or routing as the network infrastructure handles porting transparently.
Sending SMS to Landlines
Sending SMS to landline numbers is not supported in Sweden. Attempts to send messages to landline numbers will result in delivery failure, with the API returning a 400 response with error code 21614. These messages will not appear in logs and accounts will not be charged.
Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines for SMS in Sweden
Sweden follows strict data protection and privacy regulations under both GDPR and local telecommunications laws. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) oversees telecommunications regulations, while the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) enforces data protection rules.
Consent and Opt-In
Explicit Consent Requirements:
Written or digital consent must be obtained before sending marketing messages
Consent must be freely given, specific, and informed
Purpose of messaging must be clearly stated during opt-in
Records of consent must be maintained and easily accessible
Best Practices for Consent:
Use double opt-in verification
Maintain detailed consent logs including timestamp and method
Clearly communicate the type and frequency of messages
Provide easy access to privacy policy and terms
HELP/STOP and Other Commands
Required Keywords: STOP, STOPP, AVSLUTA (Swedish)
Optional Keywords: HJÄLP (Help in Swedish)
Messages must be processed in both English and Swedish
Confirmation of opt-out must be sent in the same language as the STOP request
Response time should be immediate for all commands
Do Not Call / Do Not Disturb Registries
Sweden does not maintain a centralized Do Not Call registry, but businesses must:
Maintain their own suppression lists
Honor opt-out requests within 24 hours
Implement proactive filtering of previously opted-out numbers
Regular audit and update of suppression lists
Time Zone Sensitivity
Sweden observes Central European Time (CET/CEST)
Recommended Sending Hours: 08:00 - 20:00 CET
Avoid Sending: Sundays and public holidays
Emergency Messages: Can be sent 24/7 if truly urgent
Best Practice: Schedule campaigns between 10:00 - 18:00 on weekdays
Phone Numbers Options and SMS Sender Types for in Sweden
Alphanumeric Sender ID
Operator network capability: Fully supported Registration requirements: No pre-registration required, dynamic usage allowed Sender ID preservation: Yes, displayed as-is across all major networks Length Limitation: Maximum 11 characters, alphanumeric only
Long Codes
Domestic vs. International:
Domestic: Fully supported
International: Supported with proper formatting
Sender ID preservation: Yes, preserved across all networks Provisioning time: Immediate to 24 hours Use cases: Ideal for two-way communication, customer service, and transactional messages
Short Codes
Support: Available and widely supported Provisioning time: 6-8 weeks for approval Use cases:
High-volume marketing campaigns
Two-factor authentication
Customer service
Premium rate services
Restricted SMS Content, Industries, and Use Cases
Prohibited Content:
Gambling and lottery (unless licensed)
Adult content
Illegal products/services
Cryptocurrency promotions without proper disclaimers
Regulated Industries:
Financial services require compliance with Finansinspektionen guidelines
Healthcare messages must comply with patient privacy laws
Political messages require clear party affiliation disclosure
Content Filtering
Known Carrier Filters:
URLs must be from whitelisted domains
Messages containing certain keywords may be blocked
High frequency from same sender may trigger spam filters
Best Practices:
Avoid URL shorteners
Use approved sender IDs consistently
Maintain regular but not excessive sending patterns
Include clear company identification
Best Practices for Sending SMS in Sweden
Messaging Strategy
Keep messages under 160 characters when possible
Include clear call-to-action
Personalize using recipient's name or relevant details
Maintain consistent sender ID across campaigns
Sending Frequency and Timing
Limit to 2-4 messages per month per recipient
Respect Swedish holidays and summer vacation period (July)
Avoid early morning and late evening sends
Space out bulk campaigns to prevent network congestion
Localization
Primary language: Swedish
Consider bilingual messages (Swedish/English) for diverse audiences
Use proper Swedish characters and formatting
Respect cultural nuances and holidays
Opt-Out Management
Process opt-outs in real-time
Send confirmation of opt-out
Maintain opt-out lists across all campaigns
Regular audit of opt-out database
Testing and Monitoring
Test across major carriers (Telia, Tele2, Telenor)
Monitor delivery rates by carrier
Track engagement metrics
Regular testing of opt-out functionality
SMS API integrations for Sweden
Twilio
Twilio provides a robust SMS API with comprehensive support for Swedish numbers and messaging requirements.
Authentication & Setup:
Account SID and Auth Token required
Region-specific endpoints available for EU/Sweden
Supports alphanumeric sender IDs
import{ Twilio }from'twilio';// Initialize Twilio clientconst client =newTwilio( process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,// Your Account SID process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN// Your Auth Token);// Function to send SMS to Swedish numberasyncfunctionsendSMSToSweden( to:string, message:string, senderId:string):Promise<void>{try{// Ensure number is in E.164 format for Sweden (+46...)const formattedNumber = to.startsWith('+46')? to :`+46${to.substring(1)}`;const response =await client.messages.create({ body: message, from: senderId,// Alphanumeric sender ID or Twilio number to: formattedNumber,// Optional parameters for delivery tracking statusCallback:'https://your-webhook.com/status'});console.log(`Message sent successfully! SID: ${response.sid}`);}catch(error){console.error('Error sending message:', error);throw error;}}
Sinch
Sinch offers specialized SMS services with strong presence in Nordic markets.