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Black Rock Nepal

Bulk SMS Marketing in Nepal: Limits, Costs and What Works

SMS reaches every phone, with or without internet, and it is read within minutes. This guide explains how bulk SMS works in Nepal, how message length affects cost, and how to write a short message that gets a response.

By Black Rock Nepal · Updated

Characters in one English SMS
160
Characters in one Nepali (Unicode) SMS
70
Main mobile networks: NTC and Ncell
2
Link or phone number per message
1

When SMS is the right channel

SMS needs no app and no data, so it reaches customers that email and social media miss. It is the right choice for anything short and time-sensitive:

  • One-time passwords and payment confirmations.
  • Appointment, fee and renewal reminders.
  • Delivery updates.
  • Flash offers and festival greetings.
  • Urgent notices to parents, members or staff.

Character limits and how credits are counted

A standard SMS holds 160 characters in English letters and numbers. A message with Nepali script is sent as Unicode and holds only 70 characters. Go over the limit and the message is split into parts, and each part is charged as a separate SMS.

So a 100-character message costs one credit in English and two in Nepali. Count characters before you send, and remember that some symbols and emoji also switch a message to Unicode.

Sender names

A sender name, or sender ID, shows your brand in place of a phone number. It has to be registered through your SMS provider before you can use it, so apply early. A recognised name gets more messages opened and trusted.

Write a message that works

  • Say who you are in the first words.
  • Give one offer and one action: a link, a number to call or a code to show.
  • Add a deadline. "Until Friday" gets more response than no date.
  • Stay within one message where you can.
  • Send during the day, not early morning or late at night.

Example: "[Your shop]: 15% off groceries this Saturday only. Show this SMS at the counter. Call [your number]."

Costs and choosing a provider

Bulk SMS in Nepal is usually sold as prepaid credits, with a lower price per message at higher volumes. Before you buy, ask about the price per SMS on both networks, whether credits expire, how long a sender name takes, and whether you get a delivery report for every message.

SMS with Nepal Fillings

Nepal Fillings sends SMS through your own Aakash SMS account, so you buy credits from Aakash and run campaigns from the Nepal Fillings dashboard beside your email, WhatsApp, Telegram and Messenger campaigns. It adds scheduling and a status for every message. SMS is part of the Advanced plan.

Schedule SMS beside your email and WhatsApp campaigns.

See Nepal Fillings

Sources

Common Questions

About sms marketing in Nepal.

How many characters are in one SMS?

160 characters for English letters and numbers, and 70 characters when the message contains Nepali script or other Unicode characters.

Does a Nepali SMS cost more?

Often, yes. Nepali text is sent as Unicode with a 70-character limit, so the same message can use more credits than it would in English.

What is a sender ID?

It is the name shown as the sender in place of a phone number. It must be registered through your SMS provider before use.

Does Nepal Fillings sell SMS credits?

No. It sends through your own Aakash SMS account, so you buy credits from Aakash SMS.

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