This guide walks you through authentication, sending your first SMS via the Arkesel API, handling errors, and scaling to bulk delivery. Every code example is copy-pastable. Let’s integrate.

Prerequisites

Before you write a single line of code, you need three things:

1. An Arkesel account. Create your free Arkesel account if you don’t have one.
2. An API key. Generate one from your Arkesel dashboard. You can manage multiple API keys for different environments directly from the dashboard.
3. A registered sender ID. This is the name recipients see when your message arrives. Register it through your dashboard before sending.

With these in place, you’re ready to authenticate and send SMS via the API.

How Arkesel SMS API Authentication Works

Arkesel uses API key authentication. Every request must include your API key in the request header. This is a standard pattern — if you’ve integrated any REST API before, the flow is familiar.

Include your API key as a header value in each HTTP request. The full API documentation specifies the exact header name and format. Refer to it for the current authentication schema.

Security best practices:

• Never expose your API key in client-side code (JavaScript running in the browser, mobile app source).
• Store your key in environment variables or a secrets manager — never hardcode it.
• Use separate API keys for development, staging, and production environments.
• Rotate keys periodically. If a key is compromised, revoke it immediately from the dashboard.

Arkesel is ISO 27001 certified, so the infrastructure handling your API requests meets enterprise-grade security standards. Your responsibility is keeping the API key secure on your end.

Send Your First SMS with the Arkesel API

Here’s the core of the integration. You send a POST request to the Arkesel SMS API endpoint with your API key, sender ID, recipient number, and message body.

The examples below use placeholder values. Replace YOUR_API_KEY, YourSenderID, and the recipient number with your actual values. For the exact endpoint URL and request format, consult the official API documentation.

cURL

curl -X POST https://sms.arkesel.com/api/v2/sms/send \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "sender": "YourSenderID",
    "message": "Your order #1234 has been confirmed.",
    "recipients": ["233XXXXXXXXX"]
  }'

cURL is the fastest way to test the Arkesel SMS API. Run this from your terminal and you should receive an SMS within seconds. If something fails, check the response status code — we cover error handling below.

Python

import requests
import os

api_key = os.environ.get("ARKESEL_API_KEY")
url = "https://sms.arkesel.com/api/v2/sms/send"

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "api-key": api_key
}

payload = {
    "sender": "YourSenderID",
    "message": "Your order #1234 has been confirmed.",
    "recipients": ["233XXXXXXXXX"]
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("SMS sent:", response.json())
else:
    print("Error:", response.status_code, response.text)

Note the API key loaded from an environment variable — not hardcoded. This pattern keeps your credentials secure across all environments.

Node.js

const axios = require('axios');

const apiKey = process.env.ARKESEL_API_KEY;
const url = 'https://sms.arkesel.com/api/v2/sms/send';

const payload = {
  sender: 'YourSenderID',
  message: 'Your order #1234 has been confirmed.',
  recipients: ['233XXXXXXXXX']
};

async function sendSMS() {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(url, payload, {
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'api-key': apiKey
      }
    });
    console.log('SMS sent:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error:', error.response?.status, error.response?.data);
  }
}

sendSMS();

The Node.js example uses axios, but you can use the built-in fetch API (Node 18+) or any HTTP client. The request structure stays the same.

PHP

<?php
$apiKey = getenv('ARKESEL_API_KEY');
$url = 'https://sms.arkesel.com/api/v2/sms/send';

$payload = json_encode([
    'sender' => 'YourSenderID',
    'message' => 'Your order #1234 has been confirmed.',
    'recipients' => ['233XXXXXXXXX']
]);

$ch = curl_init($url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'Content-Type: application/json',
    'api-key: ' . $apiKey
]);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, $payload);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
$httpCode = curl_getinfo($ch, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);
curl_close($ch);

if ($httpCode === 200) {
    echo 'SMS sent: ' . $response;
} else {
    echo 'Error: ' . $httpCode . ' - ' . $response;
}
?>

There is no official SDK to install — the call above is standard PHP with cURL, and the same request works from any language’s HTTP client. Full endpoint, header, and parameter reference lives in the Arkesel developer documentation.

Important: The endpoint URL, header names, and parameter structure shown here are illustrative. Always verify the current request format in the official documentation before deploying to production.

Understanding the SMS API Response

A successful SMS send returns an HTTP 200 status with a JSON response body containing the message status and a reference ID. Use this reference ID to track delivery.

When something goes wrong, the Arkesel API returns standard HTTP status codes:

• 400 Bad Request — Your request body is malformed. Check for missing required fields or invalid JSON.
• 401 Unauthorized — Invalid or missing API key. Verify your key is correct and included in the header.
• 403 Forbidden — Your account doesn’t have permission for this action. Check your sender ID registration status.
• 422 Unprocessable Entity — The request is valid JSON but contains invalid data (e.g., malformed phone number, empty message body).

The response body typically includes an error message describing what went wrong. Parse it programmatically to surface clear feedback in your application. For the full response schema and error code reference, see the API documentation.

Sending Bulk SMS via the API

Sending to multiple recipients follows the same pattern. Pass an array of phone numbers in the recipients field instead of a single number:

{
  "sender": "YourSenderID",
  "message": "Flash sale: 30% off all items this weekend.",
  "recipients": [
    "233XXXXXXXXX",
    "233YYYYYYYYY",
    "233ZZZZZZZZZ"
  ]
}

Arkesel’s SMS Platform is built for scale. With direct network connections to MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo, your messages reach recipients through dedicated routes that hold up at high volume.

If you’re planning campaigns at scale, our complete guide to SMS marketing in Ghana covers strategy, compliance, and conversion patterns beyond the API mechanics.

Best practices for bulk SMS API sends:

• Batch large lists. If you’re sending to thousands of recipients, break them into batches. Check the API documentation for the maximum recipients per request.
• Respect rate limits. The API enforces rate limits to maintain delivery quality. The documentation specifies current limits — build throttling into your send logic.
• Validate numbers first. Clean your recipient list before sending. Invalid numbers waste credits and reduce delivery rates. Arkesel’s phone number verification service can help validate numbers programmatically.

Tracking SMS Delivery Status

Sending is only half the job. You need to know if your messages arrived.

The Arkesel SMS API gives you two approaches for tracking delivery:

1. Polling. Use the reference ID from the send response to query the delivery status endpoint. This works well for transactional messages where you need to confirm delivery in real time — for example, retrying an OTP if the first attempt fails.

2. Webhooks. Register a callback URL in your Arkesel dashboard. When a message is delivered (or fails), Arkesel sends a POST request to your URL with the delivery report. This is more efficient than polling — your server only processes updates when there’s something to report.

Webhooks are the recommended approach for production systems. They give you real-time delivery data without the overhead of continuous API calls. Once those reports are flowing, our guide to reading SMS delivery reports and fixing failed messages explains what each delivery status means and what to do about the messages that never arrive.

SMS API Error Handling Best Practices

Robust error handling separates a prototype from a production-ready SMS API integration. Here are the failure scenarios you should account for:

Authentication failures (401). Log the error, alert your team, and do not retry — the key is either invalid or revoked. Fix the credential, then resend.

Malformed requests (400, 422). These are bugs in your code. Validate your payload before sending: check that phone numbers match the expected format, sender ID is registered, and the message body is not empty.

Rate limiting (429). Implement exponential backoff. Wait, then retry with increasing intervals:

import time

def send_with_retry(payload, max_retries=3):
    for attempt in range(max_retries):
        response = send_sms(payload)
        if response.status_code == 429:
            wait = 2 ** attempt
            time.sleep(wait)
            continue
        return response
    raise Exception("Max retries exceeded")

Server errors (500+). These are transient. Retry with backoff — the issue is on the server side and typically resolves quickly.

Insufficient balance. Monitor your account balance programmatically. If a send fails due to low credits, queue the message and alert your team to top up. Check Arkesel pricing for credit plans.

For detailed error code references and troubleshooting patterns, see our guide on OTP API error codes — the error handling principles apply broadly across all SMS API calls.

Common SMS API Use Cases

OTP and Two-Factor Authentication

Generate a time-limited code, send it via the Arkesel SMS API, and verify when the user submits it. SMS-based OTP remains one of the most reliable 2FA methods across Africa, where app-based authenticators have lower adoption. For common pitfalls and how to resolve them, see our guide on troubleshooting OTP API integration issues.

Transactional Notifications

Order confirmations, payment receipts, shipping updates, appointment reminders. These are time-sensitive messages your customers expect. The API’s direct carrier routing gets them there reliably — critical for financial services and e-commerce where missed notifications erode trust.

Marketing Campaigns

Promotions, product launches, seasonal offers. Combine the bulk SMS API endpoint with your CRM or marketing automation platform to build triggered SMS campaigns that reach segmented audiences at scale. For interactive campaigns that need two-way input — surveys, opt-ins, self-service menus — USSD for business complements SMS with real-time, session-based engagement. For context on choosing between SMS vs voice for business, we break down the key differences in a separate guide.

Next Steps

You’ve got the Arkesel SMS API fundamentals. Here’s where to go from here:

• Explore the full API. The official API documentation covers every endpoint, parameter, and response format in detail — including scheduling, templates, and delivery reports.
• Evaluate providers. See how Arkesel compares in our roundup of the best bulk SMS providers.
• Get started. Create your free Arkesel account, generate an API key, and send your first SMS in minutes.
• Need enterprise support? Contact our team for dedicated onboarding, custom rate limits, and priority routing.

The post How to Send SMS via the Arkesel API: Developer Guide with Code Examples appeared first on arkesel.com.

This guide shows you exactly how to send bulk SMS with a sender ID in Ghana: what a sender ID is, the format rules, how to register and get it approved, the send flow step by step, and the rules you need to follow once you start sending.

What is a sender ID in SMS?

A sender ID is the short alphanumeric name — up to 11 characters — shown in the “from” field of an SMS in place of a phone number, so recipients see your brand instead of an unknown number. Recipients cannot reply to a message sent from an alphanumeric sender ID.

“Alphanumeric” simply means letters and numbers. So instead of a long number they do not recognise, your customer sees your brand — your shop or company name — the moment the message arrives.

That single change does a lot. A named sender is easier to recognise, easier to trust, and far more likely to get opened than an unknown number.

Why a branded sender ID beats a phone number

When a message comes from a number nobody saved, most people treat it as spam. When it comes from a name they know, they read it.

A sender ID gives you three things at once:

• Recognition. Customers see who is messaging them before they open it.
• Trust. A consistent business name signals a real, professional sender — not a scam.
• Brand presence. Every message reinforces your name, even the ones people only glance at.

If you are weighing this as part of a wider plan, our complete guide to SMS marketing in Ghana shows how a branded sender fits into campaigns, reminders, and customer service.

Sender ID rules at a glance

Before you register, know the format rules. They are set by the mobile networks and apply across providers:

• Up to 11 characters. Letters and numbers only, no spaces in most cases.
• At least one letter. A sender ID made only of digits behaves like a normal phone number, so include letters to keep it branded.
• No impersonation. You cannot register a name that belongs to another company, a bank, or a government body that is not yours.
• No offensive or misleading terms. Names that mislead recipients are rejected.
• One-way only. Customers cannot reply to a message sent from an alphanumeric sender ID. Plan a separate reply path — a phone line, a WhatsApp number, or a link.

That last point changes how you write. Because the sender ID is one-way, never end a message with “reply YES” if the only sender is your branded name. Instead, point readers to a number they can call or a link they can tap.

How to send bulk SMS with your sender ID on Arkesel

Here is the full flow, from account to first send.

Step 1 — Create or log in to your account

If you do not have an account yet, create a free Arkesel account. It takes a few minutes and gives you access to the dashboard where you register your sender ID and send your messages.

If you already have one, log in and head to the SMS section.

Step 2 — Register your sender ID and submit for approval

In the dashboard, go to the sender ID section and request a new sender ID. You enter the name you want to appear on your messages (up to 11 characters) and confirm a few business details.

Your request then goes for approval at the network level — this is an operator step handled by the mobile networks, not a government registration. Approval usually takes a short review of a few business days, and the time can vary by network. You will be notified once your sender ID is approved and ready to use.

Worth being clear here: Ghana’s communications regulator does not require your business to register a sender ID. That approval is an operator-level step. (More on the rules the regulator does set further down.) For the company-name angle specifically, our guide on how to send SMS with your company name covers the same ground from the branding side.

Step 3 — Build an opt-in contact list

Upload the contacts you have permission to message. Build your list from customers who gave you their number and agreed to hear from you — opt-in lists deliver better results and keep you on the right side of the rules.

You can group contacts (for example, by location or customer type) so each message reaches the right people.

Step 4 — Compose your message

Write your message in the composer and pick your approved sender ID from the dropdown so it shows as the “from” name.

A standard SMS holds 160 characters. Go over that and the message is split into segments — each segment is charged separately, so keeping it tight saves money. Accented letters and some symbols use more space and can shorten that limit, so plain text stretches further.

Because the sender ID is one-way, give readers a clear next step inside the message: a number to call, a short link to tap, or a date to remember.

See how Arkesel delivers with real-time delivery tracking — explore the Arkesel SMS Platform.

Step 5 — Send or schedule, then check delivery reports

Send immediately, or schedule the message for a better time. Arkesel’s SMS Platform sends bulk SMS at scale over direct mobile network connections (MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo) with real-time delivery tracking.

After sending, open your delivery reports to see what landed and what did not. Our guide on how to track SMS delivery reports explains how to read those numbers and fix common delivery issues.

Staying compliant when you send promotional SMS in Ghana

Once your sender ID is approved and you start sending, a few rules from the National Communications Authority (NCA) apply to promotional messages. These protect recipients — and following them keeps your sending reputation healthy.

• Send within the allowed hours. In Ghana, promotional (commercial) SMS may only be sent between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., according to the NCA’s consumer guidance.
• Show restraint on frequency. Under s19.2.1 of the NCA’s Amended UEC Code of Conduct, only three Network Commercial Communications should be sent in a month (30 calendar days), and each can be sent only two times within that period. The clause governs the operators’ own network promotions rather than your campaigns — treat it as the regulator’s stated view of how often is too often.
• Avoid Sundays. The NCA advises that promotional messages should not be sent on Sundays, per its consumer guidance.
• Identify yourself. Ghana’s NCA UEC Code requires licensees to display the registered operator/service-provider name or a dedicated short code on commercial messages, according to the NCA’s Amended UEC Code of Conduct. A clear, branded sender ID is the simplest way to meet this — the recipient always knows who is messaging them.

One thing to keep straight: the NCA’s rule is about showing who you are on the message. It does not require your business to register a sender ID — that approval sits with the mobile networks. For a fuller walkthrough of compliant sending, see our NCA-compliant bulk SMS workflow in Ghana.

Why a sender ID gets rejected — and how to fix it

Most rejections come down to a handful of avoidable issues:

• It looks like another brand. Names that copy a bank, a network, or a known company are refused. Use your own registered business name.
• It is too long. Over 11 characters will not pass. Trim it to a short, recognisable form of your name.
• It contains offensive or misleading words. Keep it clean and accurate.
• It is all numbers. Add at least one letter so it reads as a brand, not a phone number.

If your request is declined, you will usually be told why. Adjust the name to fit the rules above and submit again.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sender ID in SMS?

It is the short name — up to 11 letters and numbers — that appears in the “from” field of a text message instead of a phone number, so recipients see your brand rather than an unknown number.

How many characters can a sender ID be?

Up to 11 characters, using letters and numbers. Include at least one letter so it reads as a name rather than a phone number.

Can customers reply to an SMS sent from a sender ID?

No. Messages sent from an alphanumeric sender ID are one-way. Give readers another way to respond — a phone number to call, a link to tap, or a WhatsApp line.

Does the NCA require businesses to register a sender ID?

No. Ghana’s NCA does not require your business to register a sender ID. The NCA’s rule is a sender-display obligation — you must clearly identify who is sending the message. Approving the sender ID itself is an operator-level step handled by the mobile networks.

How long does sender ID approval take?

Usually a short review of a few business days, though the exact time can vary by network. You will be notified once it is approved.

Start sending branded bulk SMS

A sender ID turns every text into a small, trusted touchpoint with your brand. Register your name, build an opt-in list, and send within the rules — and your messages start working harder for you.

Ready to begin? Create a free Arkesel account and start sending branded bulk SMS with your own sender ID. To plan your spend, see current pricing, and to compare your options first, read our roundup of what to look for in a bulk SMS provider.

Related Articles

• Personalized Bulk SMS: How to Personalize Messages at Scale
• Bulk SMS API for Ghana and Nigeria: A Developer’s Integration Guide
• Promotional vs transactional SMS: the difference and Ghana rules
• Bulk SMS for Ghana SMEs: 5 Ways to Boost Sales in 2026 (MTN, Telecel & AirtelTigo)
• How to Send Automated Birthday SMS to Your Customers

The post How to Send Bulk SMS with Your Sender ID (2026 Guide) appeared first on arkesel.com.

That one rule explains most surprises in SMS sending: why your SMS character limit suddenly drops to 70, why one emoji turns a 160-character text into three messages, and why a long message costs more to send. Here is how it works, which specification each number actually comes from, and how to keep your messages from quietly costing more.

SMS character limit and length: quick reference

Every SMS carries the same 140-octet (140-byte) body. The encoding decides how many characters fit inside it, and GSM-7 has two tiers rather than one.

The single-message figures come from 3GPP TS 23.038, the specification that defines the SMS alphabets and data coding schemes. The per-segment figures come from a different document, 3GPP TS 23.040, clause 9.2.3.24.1, which covers the technical realisation of the service. TS 23.038 defines no per-segment figures; the two specifications answer two different questions.

The GSM-7 vs UCS-2 choice is never yours to make directly. The characters you type make it for you.

What is the SMS character limit, and where does 160 come from?

The SMS character limit is 160 characters for a single message using GSM-7, the default 7-bit alphabet for text messaging.

It traces back to the size of the payload. The body of a single SMS is limited to 140 octets, and TS 23.038 does the arithmetic itself: “Therefore, in 140 octets, it is possible to pack (140×8)/7=160 characters.”

So the 160-character limit is not a random number. It is the most characters you can pack into 140 octets at 7 bits each.

Why do some texts only allow 70 characters?

Because the moment your message contains a character outside GSM-7, the whole message is encoded as Unicode. The Unicode SMS character limit is 70 characters, down from 160.

The same specification states it plainly: a UCS-2 coded message “can consist of up to 140 octets, i.e. up to 70 UCS2 characters”. Unicode characters take 16 bits each instead of 7, so far fewer fit into the same 140 octets. (UCS2 is the specification’s own spelling; you will also see it written UCS-2.)

One emoji, one curly quote or one cedi sign drops the whole message from 160 characters to 70.

Which characters force Unicode encoding?

A non-GSM character is any character that is not in the GSM-7 tables, and a single one forces the whole message into UCS-2 and cuts your limit to 70 characters. The non-GSM characters that do it:

• Emoji — every emoji is a Unicode character. A single triggers UCS-2.
• Curly or smart quotes — “ ” ‘ ’, the styled quotes word processors insert automatically. Straight quotes ” ‘ are safe.
• Accented characters outside the GSM-7 set — the default alphabet already holds é, è, ñ, ü, å, ä, ö and à, so those stay in GSM-7. Characters like č, ș, ł and lowercase ç are in neither table, and any one of them switches the message to Unicode.
• Non-Latin scripts — Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Hindi and Amharic are all Unicode.
• Typographic characters — the em dash (—) and the ellipsis (…).
• Most currency symbols — including the cedi sign (₵) and the cent sign (¢) in the common GH¢ rendering. That case gets its own section below.

The GSM-7 default alphabet covers the Latin letters, digits, common punctuation and a handful of accented European letters. Staying inside GSM-7 keeps your message out of Unicode. It does not automatically leave you all 160 characters, because GSM-7 is two tables rather than one.

A stray smart quote pasted in from a document is easy to miss. Replace it with a straight quote and you get 90 characters back.

What is the difference between the GSM-7 default alphabet and the extension table?

Nine symbols sit in the GSM-7 extension table rather than in the default alphabet: € [ ] { } \ ~ ^ |. Each one is sent as an escape character followed by the symbol itself, which is two seven-bit slots instead of one.

TS 23.038 states the consequence as a rule: “If the GSM 7 bit default alphabet extension mechanism is used then the number of displayable characters will reduce by one for every instance where the GSM 7 bit default alphabet extension table is used.”

Read that literally, because it is literal. A message with ten euro signs in it never leaves GSM-7 and never becomes a Unicode message. It simply holds 150 displayable characters instead of 160.

The extension table exists for symbols of exactly this kind. TS 23.038 introduces it as “reserved for symbols of international significance (e.g currency symbols)”.

The euro sign made that list. The cedi did not.

Does the cedi sign (₵) work in a standard SMS?

No. Neither the cedi sign (₵) nor the cent sign (¢) appears in the GSM-7 default alphabet or in the GSM-7 extension table, so a message containing either one is encoded as UCS-2 and its limit drops from 160 characters to 70.

For anyone writing price copy in Ghana that makes it the most expensive character on the keyboard. The cent sign matters more than the cedi sign in practice, because GH¢ is a common way to write a price locally.

What is in the tables: ¤, £, $ and ¥ sit in the default alphabet, and € sits in the extension table. The cedi is in neither.

It is an ordinary Unicode character everywhere else, and the Unicode Consortium encodes the cedi sign at U+20B5 as CEDI SIGN and annotates it Ghana. That is the whole problem: Unicode is where SMS stops giving you 160 characters.

What it costs on a real campaign

Take a 150-character promotion. Written entirely in the GSM-7 default alphabet, it is one segment, billed once.

Write the same 150 characters with the price as GH¢50 and the message is a Unicode message. At 67 characters per segment, 150 characters needs three segments, so the same campaign to the same list is billed three times over.

Write the price as GHS 50 instead, or spell the amount out in words as fifty cedis, and every character in it is a Latin letter, a digit or a space. All of those sit in the GSM-7 default alphabet, so the message stays at 160 characters and one segment, and the campaign bills once.

Before a priced campaign goes out, send the exact copy to your own number and check what that one send registered as: one segment or three. Our guide to SMS delivery reports covers what comes back after a send and how to read it. A send that registers as three is telling you the encoding switched, and you can fix the copy before it reaches your whole list.

If you are planning the campaign end to end, our guide to SMS marketing in Ghana covers the rest of it.

How does SMS message segmentation work, and who splits the message?

Not the carrier. TS 23.040 is specific about where segmentation happens: “The relation between segments of a concatenated message is made only at the originator, where the message is segmented, and at the recipient, where the message is reassembled.” The originator is the sending end, meaning the handset or the application that submits the message. The service centre in between is not doing the work; the same clause says a service centre “shall handle segments of a concatenated message like any other short message”.

The split is therefore decided before your message reaches the network, which is why what you pay is set by the copy you submit.

Each segment gives up six of those 140 octets to a User Data Header, leaving 134 octets for text. The User Data Header is a small block of metadata that tells the receiving phone how to reassemble the parts, and it has to be present in every segment.

That is where the missing characters go. TS 23.040 states the results outright: each segment of a concatenated SMS carries at most 153 GSM-7 characters, or 67 characters when the message is encoded as 16-bit UCS-2. The specification prints its own working beside them, “153 (160-7)” for GSM-7 and “67 ((140-6)/2)” for UCS-2.

For anyone sending at scale, segments rather than messages are the unit that matters. A 320-character GSM-7 message is three segments. The same message with one emoji becomes Unicode, and at 67 characters per segment, 320 characters now needs five.

Merge fields are where this catches people out. Copy that fits one segment while you are testing it can spill into a second once a long customer name is substituted in, which our guide to personalising messages at scale covers. Developers working closer to the wire will find the concatenation rules in clause 9.2.3.24 of TS 23.040, and the bulk SMS API integration guide covers the sending side.

Why is my message being sent (and billed) as 2 or more messages?

Your message crossed the single-segment limit. Two things commonly push it over:

• Length — your text ran past 160 characters (GSM-7) or 70 (Unicode).
• Encoding — one non-GSM character pulled the limit down to 70, and to 67 per segment, so copy you expected to fit in one segment now needs two or more.

The Arkesel SMS Platform bills per segment rather than per message, so a message that splits is charged as several messages. That is why one emoji or one currency symbol can multiply what a campaign costs without changing a word of the copy.

Tight, GSM-7-only copy keeps your character count and your sending costs down together. For the rest of what moves the number on the invoice, see what determines bulk SMS cost in Ghana, and for current rates see Arkesel pricing.

Why some sources say 152 and 66 characters per segment

Both pairs of numbers are correct. They describe two variants of the same facility.

TS 23.040 defines a second form of concatenation that uses a 16-bit reference number instead of an 8-bit one. It spends one more octet per segment, so its segments hold 152 GSM-7 characters or 66 UCS-2 characters, set out in clause 9.2.3.24.8 against the 153 and 67 of clause 9.2.3.24.1.

If you find 152 and 66 quoted somewhere, you have not found an error. You have found the 16-bit variant.

SMS length quick FAQ

How many characters are in one SMS?

160 characters with GSM-7 encoding, or 70 characters with Unicode (UCS-2).

What is the maximum length of a concatenated SMS?

There is a cap, and TS 23.040 clause 9.2.3.24.1 states it: 39,015 GSM-7 characters or 17,085 Unicode characters, which is 255 segments. Your budget will stop you long before the standard does, because every segment is billed.

Why does my SMS character limit drop to 70?

Your message carries a character that is not in the GSM-7 tables — an emoji, a curly quote, a currency symbol such as ₵ or ¢, or a non-Latin script. Any one of them switches the whole message to Unicode encoding.

Does an emoji really change the SMS length?

Yes. A single emoji recodes the entire message to Unicode and drops the limit from 160 to 70 characters. A full 160-character message that picks up one emoji needs three segments, not two, because concatenated Unicode segments hold 67 characters each.

Who splits a long SMS into segments?

The originator does, meaning the handset or the application that submits the message. The receiving phone reassembles it, and the service centre in between handles each segment like any other short message.

How many characters per segment in a multipart SMS?

153 for GSM-7 and 67 for Unicode, slightly fewer than a single message because the User Data Header reserves space to reassemble the parts.

Is the cedi sign (₵) supported in a standard SMS?

No. The cedi sign is not in the GSM-7 default alphabet or its extension table, and neither is the cent sign in GH¢. Either one makes the message a Unicode message at 70 characters, and 67 per segment once it splits.

Check the copy before you check the budget

Knowing the SMS character limit is the easy part. The saving comes from testing your own copy. Before a priced campaign reaches anyone, send the exact message to your own number and check what that one send registered as, and you will know what the campaign costs per recipient while the copy can still be changed.

When the copy is ready, the Arkesel SMS Platform delivers it across Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.

The post SMS Length & Unicode: Character Limits Explained (2026) appeared first on arkesel.com.

If you run a business in Ghana or anywhere in Africa, you have almost certainly received a payment alert, a delivery update, or a promotional offer by SMS. A bulk SMS platform is the tool behind those messages. This guide breaks down what it is, how it works, the features that matter, who uses it, and how to choose one before you commit to a provider.

Bulk SMS vs Regular SMS: What’s the Difference?

Regular SMS is one phone typing one message to one person. Bulk SMS is one business sending the same (or personalised) message to thousands of people at the same time.

The distinction is more than scale. A bulk SMS platform gives you things a normal phone never could:

• One-to-many delivery — reach your entire contact list with a single send, not one number at a time.
• A branded sender name — your messages show up as your business name (for example, your shop or brand) instead of an unknown number.
• Automation — schedule sends, trigger messages from events like a new order, and send through software instead of by hand.
• Delivery reports — see exactly which messages reached their recipient and which didn’t.

In short: regular SMS is personal communication. Bulk SMS is business communication built to reach many people reliably and to prove it landed.

SMS also has a reach advantage that few channels match. Most text messages are opened within minutes of arriving, far ahead of email — and they work on every phone, including basic handsets with no internet. That is why businesses across Africa lean on SMS for the messages that genuinely have to be seen.

How Does a Bulk SMS Platform Work?

A bulk SMS platform works by passing your message through a delivery chain that ends at your customer’s phone. Here is the path, step by step:

1. Sender (web app or API). You start the message in one of two ways: typing it into a web dashboard, or sending it programmatically through an API — a connection that lets your own software (your website, app, or system) send messages automatically.
2. SMS gateway. The platform passes your message to an SMS gateway. Think of the gateway as the bridge between business software and the mobile networks — it formats the message correctly and decides which route it takes.
3. Direct carrier connections. The gateway hands the message to the mobile networks. The strongest platforms connect directly to the carriers — in Ghana that means MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo — rather than passing it through several middlemen first.
4. Recipient handset. The carrier delivers the message to your customer’s phone, usually within seconds. A delivery report then travels back up the chain so you can confirm it arrived.

Why direct carrier connections matter in Africa

Not every platform connects to the networks the same way. Some route your messages through a chain of intermediaries before they ever reach the carrier. Each extra hop adds a point where a message can be delayed, deprioritised, or dropped.

Direct connections to the local mobile networks shorten that path. Fewer hops mean fewer points of failure, faster delivery, and more reliable arrival — which matters most for the messages that can’t afford to be late, like one-time passcodes (OTPs) and payment confirmations. For a Ghanaian or African audience, this is the difference that separates a dependable platform from an unpredictable one.

What Features Should a Bulk SMS Platform Have?

The features that matter are the ones that get your message delivered, keep your list organised, and prove the campaign worked. Look for these:

• Contact management and segmentation — upload, organise, and group your contacts into lists so you can message the right people.
• Personalisation — insert each contact’s name or details into the message automatically, so “Hello John” reaches John and “Hello Ama” reaches Ama from a single send.
• Scheduling — set messages to go out on a chosen date and time, or plan a season of campaigns in advance.
• Sender ID — send under your business name instead of a number, so recipients recognise you instantly.
• Two-way messaging — let customers reply, so SMS becomes a conversation rather than a broadcast.
• Delivery reports and tracking — see in real time which messages were delivered, which failed, and why.
• API and webhooks — connect the platform to your own software so messages send automatically, and receive instant status updates back.
• Message templates — save and reuse your common messages instead of rewriting them each time.
• Consent and opt-out management — handle subscriber consent and unsubscribe requests cleanly, which keeps you compliant and protects your sender reputation.

You won’t need every feature on day one. But the further you grow, the more these move from “nice to have” to essential.

Who Uses Bulk SMS Platforms — and for What?

Bulk SMS platforms are used by any organisation that needs to reach a lot of people quickly and reliably. The uses fall into a few clear groups:

• Transactional messages — one-time passcodes (OTPs), order confirmations, and payment alerts. These are time-sensitive and have to arrive.
• Marketing campaigns — promotions, product launches, and seasonal offers sent to a customer list.
• Reminders and surveys — appointment reminders, renewal nudges, and quick feedback requests.
• Critical alerts — service outages, security warnings, and emergency notices that everyone needs to see at once.

These needs show up across many industries. Banks and fintechs send OTPs and transaction alerts. E-commerce stores confirm orders and recover abandoned carts. Healthcare providers send appointment reminders. Schools reach parents. Logistics firms send delivery updates, and insurers send renewal reminders. Wherever a message simply has to land, a bulk SMS platform is doing the work.

If you want a practical walkthrough of running a campaign, our guide on how to send bulk SMS in Ghana takes you through it step by step.

How Do I Choose a Bulk SMS Platform?

Choosing a platform comes down to matching it against the things that actually affect your results. Use this checklist:

• Delivery reliability and routing. Ask how the platform connects to the networks. Direct carrier connections deliver more reliably than long aggregator chains. This is the single most important factor — a cheap message that never arrives costs you more than a reliable one.
• Coverage in your markets. Confirm the platform delivers to every country and network you serve. A platform strong in one market may be weak in another.
• Compliance and consent tools. Look for built-in opt-out handling and consent management so you stay on the right side of local messaging rules and protect your sender reputation.
• Delivery reporting. You should be able to see what was delivered and what failed, in real time — not guess. Our guide to SMS delivery reports and tracking explains what good reporting looks like.
• API and integration depth. If you’ll send messages from your own software, check that the platform has a clear, well-documented API and webhook support.
• Support you can reach. When a campaign stalls, responsive local support that understands your market is worth more than a ticket queue in another timezone.
• Flexible plans. Pricing should fit how you actually send — whether that’s occasional campaigns or high daily volume. Compare current options on the Arkesel pricing page rather than guessing from old figures.

Notice what this checklist is not: a ranking of brands. The right platform depends on your markets, your volume, and how you’ll send. If you want to weigh specific options side by side, see our breakdown of the best bulk SMS providers in Ghana.

Where Arkesel Fits

Arkesel’s SMS Platform is built around the things this guide says matter. It delivers bulk SMS at scale over direct mobile network connections to MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo, with real-time delivery tracking and status reporting — so you can see exactly which messages landed.

For developers, the SMS Platform exposes a REST API with copy-paste code samples in cURL, Python, Node.js, and PHP, plus webhook support for real-time delivery notifications. You send a message with a single request and get status updates back automatically.

The SMS Platform is available across Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania — so it scales with you as you grow across the region.

Ready to compare your options? See current plans on the Arkesel pricing page and find the fit for how you send.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bulk SMS platform?

A bulk SMS platform is a system that sends one text message to many phone numbers at once, from a web dashboard or through an API, instead of typing on a phone. Businesses use it to reach their whole contact list reliably and to confirm each message was delivered.

How does bulk SMS work?

Your message travels from a sender (a web app or API) to an SMS gateway, then to the mobile networks, and finally to your customer’s handset. Platforms with direct carrier connections — to MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo in Ghana — deliver more reliably because the message passes through fewer intermediaries.

Is bulk SMS the same as a normal SMS?

No. A normal SMS is one phone messaging one person. Bulk SMS sends the same or personalised message to thousands of people at once, under your business name, with scheduling, automation, and delivery reports that a regular phone can’t offer.

What features should a bulk SMS platform have?

The essentials are contact management and segmentation, personalisation, scheduling, a branded sender ID, two-way messaging, real-time delivery reports, an API with webhooks, message templates, and consent and opt-out management.

How do I choose a bulk SMS platform?

Check delivery reliability and how it connects to the networks, coverage in your markets, compliance and consent tools, the quality of delivery reporting, API and integration depth, the responsiveness of support, and whether the plans fit how you send. Delivery reliability matters most.

The Bottom Line

A bulk SMS platform turns one message into thousands of delivered conversations — reliably, automatically, and under your own brand. The best choice for your business is the one with the strongest delivery, the coverage you need, and the features that match how you send.

When you’re ready, explore the Arkesel SMS Platform to reach your customers reliably at scale. For the bigger picture on running SMS that converts, start with our complete guide to SMS marketing in Ghana.

Related Articles

• Personalized Bulk SMS: How to Personalize Messages at Scale
• Bulk SMS API for Ghana and Nigeria: A Developer’s Integration Guide
• Bulk SMS for Ghana SMEs: 5 Ways to Boost Sales in 2026 (MTN, Telecel & AirtelTigo)
• How to Send Automated Birthday SMS to Your Customers

The post What Is a Bulk SMS Platform? appeared first on arkesel.com.

Arkesel offers SMS plans to suit your needs. The process of making a purchase or recharging is straightforward and simple.

Top up your Arkesel account: Purchasing an SMS Plan

• To purchase an SMS package or recharge your account balance, please visit our website at www.arkesel.com.
• Click on the Login option on the top right corner of the page and enter your Email Address and Password used during your Arkesel account creation.
• You will be redirected to the various services that Arkesel offers. Kindly click on Bulk SMS.
• To top up your SMS Balance, please place your mouse pointer on ‘Recharge’ and click on ‘Purchase SMS Plan’.

• You will see the various plans and respective prices.
• For instance, you will notice the GH¢10 plan offers up to 385 messages, the GH¢20 plan offers up to 800 messages, etc.
• No Expiry means the credit does not expire until it is used up, while Expiry means it can be used within a period of six months.

• After identifying the plan you want to purchase, click on “View Features” for your preferred plan.
• You are then provided with a breakdown of the plan you wish to purchase, along with its validity period.

• Click “Purchase Now” below and select your preferred payment method. Click ‘Purchase Now’ after selecting a payment method.

If you choose the Flutterwave payment option, you will be redirected to a page where payment is being made.

The page offers alternative payment methods, including debit/Credit card and Mobile Money payment options.

Mobile Money option (Flutterwave)

If you want to pay with mobile money, click the ‘Pay with Mobile Money’ option.

1. Select your preferred network operator and enter your mobile money number. Click ‘Pay’ (with the specified amount) to complete the transaction.
2. A message prompt will pop up on your mobile phone to confirm the transaction. Free spins with
3. Kindly confirm by entering your mobile money PIN to complete the transaction.
4. After confirming payment, wait a few seconds to be redirected to the Arkesel platform, where your account will be automatically topped up.

Credit/Debit Card option (Flutterwave)

When paying with a card, select the Pay with Card option.

1. Please provide the card number, the card’s period of validity, and the CVV.
2. After all the above steps have been completed, click on ‘Pay’.
3. Once the payment is processed, wait a few seconds to be redirected to the Arkesel platform, where your account will be automatically topped up.

ExpressPay option

If you chose ExpressPay, you have the option to use either your Visa Card, Mastercard, Amex or Discover card, Mobile Money, and ExpressCard. To use any of these options, kindly click on the respective option displayed on the page.

Please note that paying with mobile money on this page follows the same steps as the Flutterwave payment option. You can alternatively select the third payment option and click continue to use your ExpressCard for the transaction.

Top up your Arkesel account: Recharging your SMS balance

To recharge your Balance, visit Recharge and then select Balance Top Up.

Enter the amount you want to buy under ‘Purchase Amount’ and click ‘Pay Now’.

The next page displays the various payment methods. Select your preferred payment method and follow the steps to top up your SMS Balance.

After confirming payment, wait a few seconds to be redirected to the Arkesel platform, where your account will be automatically topped up.

I hope this guide has helped guide you through recharging your SMS Balance and Main Balance.

You can explore other articles tailored to your needs regarding Arkesel and watch our videos on how to utilize our other services.

Thank you

The post How To Top-Up Your Arkesel Account appeared first on arkesel.com.

This guide shows you how to send bulk voice messages to customers in Ghana with Voice SMS, Arkesel’s voice broadcast service. You’ll learn what Voice SMS is, how to send a voice message to multiple phone numbers step by step, where it works best for a Ghanaian business, and how it differs from a staffed call centre.

What is Voice SMS?

Voice SMS delivers a recorded or computer-spoken message to many phone numbers at once, as an automated phone call. You record your message — or type it and let the system speak it aloud — upload your list of recipients, and the service calls each number and plays your message.

It is built for one-to-many broadcast: reaching a whole audience with a single spoken message. That makes it different from a personal voice note you tap and send to one contact on WhatsApp. Voice SMS is for business reach at scale, and it is available to businesses in Ghana.

It is also different from a staffed call centre, where live agents pick up and talk to callers. With Voice SMS, no one dials and no agent stays on the line. You set the message up once, and the calls go out on their own.

Why send a voice message instead of a text?

A spoken message lands where text sometimes can’t. Here is where voice earns its place.

• It reaches people who can’t read comfortably. A text message excludes anyone who struggles to read it. A voice call speaks to them directly.
• It works in local languages. Record in Twi, Ga, Ewe, Hausa, or any language your customers speak — exactly as you’d say it in person.
• It carries urgency and tone. A spoken alert feels more immediate and personal than a line of text, which lifts attention and response.
• It stands out. Inboxes overflow with texts. A short, clear phone call is harder to ignore.

Voice doesn’t replace SMS or WhatsApp — it adds a channel for the moments when a spoken message simply works better. If you’re weighing the options, our guide on SMS vs voice for business breaks down when each one wins, and the WhatsApp, SMS, and voice channel mix guide shows how to combine them. And if you’re building out your SMS channel too, our roundup of the best bulk SMS providers in Ghana helps you choose.

How to send a voice message to multiple phone numbers

Here is the practical flow for sending bulk voice messages to your customers with Arkesel Voice SMS. You can start a Voice SMS broadcast from your Arkesel account.

1. Prepare your message. Record your message as an audio file, or type out the words and let the system read them aloud as a computer-spoken voice (text-to-speech). Keep it short and clear — a few seconds of focused speech lands better than a long one. You can also set a Voice ID for the broadcast so the call is recognisably from your business.

2. Log in to your Arkesel account. Sign in with the email and password you used to create your account, then open the voice messaging section of your dashboard.

3. Add your recipients. Paste or type your phone numbers, or upload a contact file such as a spreadsheet when your list is already saved. Clean the list first — remove duplicates and anyone who has opted out — so every call reaches the right person once.

4. Set up the broadcast. Add your audio file or your text-to-speech message, confirm your recipient list, and choose when the calls should go out — immediately or scheduled for a time your customers are likely to pick up.

5. Send your broadcast. Send the campaign, then review it in your dashboard afterward to see how it went and sharpen the next one.

Prefer to build this into your own app or system? Voice SMS is also available as a programmatic Voice API, so your developers can trigger automated calls and broadcasts directly from code — see the Arkesel developer documentation to get started.

Ready to send your first voice broadcast? Start a Voice SMS campaign from your Arkesel account.

What businesses use voice broadcast for

Voice broadcast fits any moment when a spoken message reaches customers better than a text — which is why voice message marketing and automated alerts work so well for businesses across Ghana. Common uses include:

• Payment and repayment reminders. Microfinance institutions, savings groups, and lenders send a spoken reminder before a due date, in the customer’s own language, so it’s understood and acted on.
• Utility and service alerts. Announce a planned outage, a restored service, or a maintenance window as a quick automated call that reaches everyone, including customers on feature phones.
• Community and event announcements. Schools, churches, associations, and cooperatives share meeting dates, event reminders, and important notices spoken aloud — no reading required.
• Agri co-op and field notices. Reach farmers and members with input deadlines, pickup schedules, or price updates in Twi, Ewe, or Hausa, where a written message would go unread.
• Promotions and offers. Announce a sale, a new product, or a limited offer with a voice customers actually hear — voice message marketing that stands out from a crowded SMS inbox.

The thread through all of these is reach: a voice broadcast service in Ghana lets you speak to the low-literacy and local-language customers a written campaign quietly leaves behind.

Voice SMS vs VoiceConnect: which one do you need?

Both are voice products, but they solve opposite problems. The simplest way to choose is to ask which direction the calls go.

If your job is to send a message out to many customers, Voice SMS is the right tool. If your customers call in and you need menus and agents to handle them, that’s VoiceConnect, Arkesel’s cloud call centre platform — and our guide on what IVR is and how it works explains that side in plain terms.

A note on compliance in Ghana

Voice campaigns follow the same good-practice rules as bulk messaging: send to people who expect to hear from you, respect sensible calling hours, and make it easy to opt out. Our guide to sending bulk SMS in Ghana walks through a compliant workflow that applies just as well to voice, and our SMS marketing in Ghana guide covers consent and timing in more depth. When in doubt about a specific campaign, contact the Arkesel team before you send.

Voice SMS is available to businesses in Ghana, so you can reach your customers wherever they are in the country.

Frequently asked questions

What is Voice SMS? Voice SMS is a service that delivers a recorded or computer-spoken message to many phone numbers at once as an automated phone call. You set the message up once, and the service calls each number and plays it — built for reaching a whole audience at scale, not for sending a personal voice note to one person.

How do I send a voice message to multiple phone numbers? Log in to your Arkesel account, open the voice messaging section, add your recorded audio or text-to-speech message, upload or paste your recipient list, then schedule or send the broadcast. One message goes out as an automated call to every number on your list.

How do I send bulk voice messages in Ghana? Prepare your message, add your recipients, and send it from your Arkesel Voice SMS dashboard — or trigger it from your own system through the Voice API. Voice SMS is available to businesses in Ghana and works for both quick alerts and scheduled campaigns.

Can I send bulk voice messages in Twi or other local languages? Yes. Record your message in Twi, Ga, Ewe, Hausa, or any language your customers speak, or type it for text-to-speech. Speaking to customers in their own language is the main reason many Ghanaian businesses add a voice channel.

What is the difference between Voice SMS and VoiceConnect? Voice SMS sends messages out to many customers automatically — promotions, alerts, and reminders. VoiceConnect handles calls coming in, with phone menus and live agents for support and service. Choose Voice SMS to broadcast; choose VoiceConnect to run a contact centre.

Start sending bulk voice messages to your customers

A spoken message reaches customers in a way text can’t — in their language, with urgency, and even when they can’t read. Voice SMS lets you deliver that message to your whole audience in Ghana from one place.

Start a Voice SMS broadcast with Arkesel, or talk to our team about high-volume campaigns. For current plans, see Arkesel pricing. If your customers call in and you need agents and menus instead, VoiceConnect is the call centre side of voice.

The post How to Send Voice Messages to Customers at Scale in Ghana appeared first on arkesel.com.

That is what USSD does for a business. Here is what it actually delivers, who each use fits, and how to get started.

What is USSD, and how does it work?

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is the technology behind the codes you dial that start with * and end with #. Type one in, and a menu opens on the screen — no app to install, no data to spend.

It runs a real-time, two-way session between the phone and the business’s system. While that session stays open, the customer makes a choice, your system replies, they choose again — back and forth in seconds. That is the key difference from one-way SMS: USSD is a live conversation, not a single text.

How a USSD session flows

1. The customer dials your code — for example, a short string like *123#. (A shortcode is the dialled number that opens your service.)
2. A menu appears — “1. Check balance, 2. Pay a bill, 3. Talk to support.”
3. They make a selection, and your application sends back the next screen.
4. The session ends when the task is done or the customer exits.

No internet, no smartphone, no download. That is why USSD reaches customers an app never will. If you are weighing it against text or chat, our guide on USSD vs SMS vs WhatsApp for business breaks down when each channel wins. For the full picture of how interactive USSD shapes the customer experience, start with our complete guide to USSD for business in Africa.

7 business uses of USSD

USSD earns its place wherever you need to reach customers instantly, on any phone, without forcing an app or a data plan. Here are the seven that matter most for a growing business.

1. USSD payments — paying by code

The problem: Many customers can’t or won’t check out on your website or app, but they want to pay.

How USSD solves it: A customer dials a code, picks what they’re paying for, and authorizes the charge from their phone. No card details typed on a tiny screen, no app to open. (More on exactly how the money moves below — USSD is the menu, not the wallet.)

Who it fits: Retailers, billers, schools, churches, and any business collecting payments from customers who live on feature phones or low data.

2. USSD banking and balance checks

The problem: Banking apps need a smartphone and internet. A large share of customers have neither, or simply prefer not to use data for a quick check.

How USSD solves it: Customers check balances, move money, and confirm transactions by dialling a code — on any handset. This is why USSD banking (sometimes called cellphone banking) is the workhorse channel for financial services across the country.

Who it fits: Banks, microfinance institutions, savings groups, and insurers serving customers beyond the smartphone-and-data segment.

3. Mobile money top-ups, airtime and data

The problem: Customers need to buy airtime, data bundles, or top up a wallet — quickly, anywhere, on any phone.

How USSD solves it: A short menu lets them choose an amount and confirm in seconds. It is the same dial-a-code habit millions of Ghanaians already use every day, which means zero learning curve.

Who it fits: Telcos, agents, fintechs, and resellers moving high volumes of small, frequent transactions.

4. Customer self-service menus

The problem: Your call centre is buried under “what’s my balance?” and “where’s my order?” calls that don’t need a human.

How USSD solves it: Put the common requests behind a self-service menu — order status, account details, FAQs, support routing. Customers help themselves in seconds, and your team handles the calls that actually need them. (Self-service over USSD is often what people mean by “selfcare” menus.)

Who it fits: Utilities, telcos, e-commerce, and any business with a high volume of repetitive enquiries.

5. Surveys and feedback collection

The problem: Web surveys and email forms miss the customers who aren’t online — and that’s a lot of your market.

How USSD solves it: Push a short interactive survey that any customer can answer on the spot, on any phone, with no data cost. You gather real-time feedback from people other survey tools never reach. It is a practical, inclusive way to run mobile marketing research.

Who it fits: Brands, NGOs, field teams, and research outfits collecting responses where internet is patchy.

6. Loyalty, coupons and vouchers

The problem: Loyalty programmes that live in an app exclude the customers who never download it.

How USSD solves it: Members check points, redeem rewards, and claim vouchers by dialling a code — so everyone can take part, not just smartphone users.

Who it fits: Retailers, FMCG brands, and service businesses running rewards or promotional campaigns.

7. Registration and onboarding

The problem: Sign-up forms that require a browser or an app lose customers before they start.

How USSD solves it: Capture the essentials through a guided menu — name, location, a few choices — and onboard customers wherever they are, on whatever phone they own.

Who it fits: Insurers, financial services, loyalty schemes, and any business that needs to register customers at scale and in the field.

See how Arkesel’s USSD Solutions power these on any phone. Explore the USSD Solutions platform and what it can do for your business.

How USSD payments really work

This is where most overviews get it wrong, so it’s worth being precise.

USSD is the interface — the interactive menu the customer dials into. It is not the thing that holds or moves the money. When a customer pays, the actual debit and authorization run over the rails they bank with: their mobile money wallet or their bank account, which they confirm with their own PIN. (“Rails” here just means the payment system that holds the funds and settles the transaction.)

So the flow looks like this: the customer dials your code, the USSD menu shows them what they’re paying for, and the charge is authorized against their wallet or bank — on those systems, with their PIN — not on USSD itself. USSD makes the experience instant and app-free; the mobile money or bank rails do the settling.

This matters for two reasons. First, it keeps your expectations honest: you’re building the front door, not the vault. Second, it’s reassuring for customers — authorization stays inside the wallet or bank they already trust, behind their PIN.

For a deeper look at banking, mobile money, and payment use cases, see our guide on USSD for financial services and mobile money in Africa. Costs vary by use case and volume — for current figures, check the Arkesel pricing page.

Why USSD fits the Ghana and Africa market

USSD isn’t a fallback here. It’s a primary channel.

A large part of the market still runs on feature phones, and even smartphone owners ration data. USSD sidesteps both: it works on any handset, costs the customer no data, and feels familiar because dialling codes is already an everyday habit. That reach is the whole point — you meet customers where they are instead of asking them to come to an app.

Arkesel’s USSD Solutions work in Ghana across the major mobile networks — MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo — so a single setup reaches customers on every network. For an honest comparison of when a USSD service beats building a mobile app, read our guide on USSD vs a mobile app in Africa.

Getting started with USSD for your business

Two pieces turn USSD into a working service:

1. A shortcode — the number customers dial to reach you. Choosing the right one matters; our guide on how to choose a USSD shortcode provider in Ghana and our walkthrough on getting a USSD shortcode for your business in Ghana cover the details.
2. A USSD application — the menus and logic behind the code. Arkesel provisions custom USSD codes and lets your team build multi-level interactive menus through its USSD API, with the session handling managed for you. To go deeper on the build, see our USSD application development guide and USSD menu design best practices.

You don’t need to wire all of this together yourself. The point of a managed USSD platform is that the hard parts — the carrier connections, the session management, the menu engine — are handled, so you focus on the experience your customers see.

Frequently asked questions

What is USSD?

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is the technology behind the *code# numbers you dial to open a menu on your phone. It runs a real-time session between the phone and a business’s system, with no app and no data required.

What is USSD used for in business?

Businesses use USSD for payments, mobile banking, airtime and data top-ups, customer self-service, surveys, loyalty programmes, and registration — anywhere they need to reach customers instantly on any phone, including feature phones.

What is a USSD payment and how does it work?

A USSD payment lets a customer pay by dialling a code and choosing from a menu. USSD is the interactive interface; the actual charge is authorized against the customer’s mobile money wallet or bank account, confirmed with their PIN — USSD doesn’t hold or move the money itself.

What is USSD banking?

USSD banking — also called cellphone banking — lets customers check balances, transfer money, and confirm transactions by dialling a code on any phone, without an app or internet. It is widely used for financial services across Ghana.

Does USSD need internet or a smartphone?

No. USSD works on any mobile device, including feature phones, with zero data cost for the customer. That’s why it reaches people an app or website can’t.

Is USSD secure?

USSD sessions are protected by PIN authorization and the security of the wallet or bank rails behind the payment. For how transactions are kept safe, see our guide on USSD security and mobile transaction protection.

How do I get USSD for my business in Ghana?

You need a shortcode and a USSD application. Arkesel provisions custom USSD codes across MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo and provides the API to build your menus. Talk to our team to set it up.

Put a USSD code to work for your business

USSD reaches every customer in Ghana — on any phone, no app, no data. From payments and banking to surveys and self-service, it turns a short dialled code into a real service customers actually use.

Ready to put a USSD code to work for your business in Ghana? Talk to our team, or create an account to get started.

The post 7 Business Uses for USSD: Banking, Payments & More appeared first on arkesel.com.

You will then be redirected to the registration page (as shown below). Provide the required information and check the “I Agree to the terms and conditions ” box if you accept our terms and conditions, and also check the “I’m not a robot” and answer the few questions that come up for security purposes. Click on the Sign-up button when done.

After providing the registration details, the next step is to verify your email address based on the prompt in the image below.

Check your inbox for an email from Arkesel with the email ID info@arkesel.com. Click on “Activate Account “. Your account is activated when you click on the link and you are redirected to the login page. Provide your Email and Password and check “I’m not a robot” to log into your Arkesel Account.

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