Connect with your own network provider

Impaxio has built-in integrations with leading providers of SMS shortcodes and phone numbers, WhatsApp numbers, as well as airtime transfer services. Our support team will be glad to help you along the way.

When to choose your own connection to network providers?

When connecting your own mobile network connectivity provider (such as Twilio) to Impaxio, you will pay the provider directly for each message you send or receive, in addition to the price of your Impaxio subscription plan. As a rule of thumb, it can be worth getting your own connection with a third party network provider if your monthly messaging volume is above 10k. Otherwise, we recommend going with a shortcode or phone number hosted by Impaxio.

Network gateways for SMS Surveys

All outgoing SMS (your questions) reach your users via the network provider, and all incoming SMS (responses from your audience) are routed back to the Impaxio platform. That's why we also refer to these mobile network providers as "Gateways" (SMS Gateways).

To send and receive SMS, you will need to get a virtual phone number (same number of digits as your normal mobile phone number) or an SMS shortcode (typically 4 to 5 digits). If you envisage sending/receiving more than 1'000 messages per hour, we recommend choosing an SMS shortcode, which are much faster. Added Benefit: In most countries, responding to a shortcode is free for users, which can increase response rates, particularly in low-income settings. For smaller operations, it can be sufficient to start with a virtual phone number.

Check the below list to find out, which provider has two-way SMS communication capability for your country of interest. Note that additional countries may be available upon request. To get pricing for each provider and country, please check their websites:

Network gateways for WhatsApp surveys

Similar to SMS, also WhatsApp messages will be sent and received via a network provider. In the case of WhatsApp, Impaxio provides a built-in integration with Twilio - a leading international provider of WhatsApp messaging services.

Providers to send Airtime

Many clients incentivize their survey respondents with airtime top-ups (pre-paid phone balance), which increases response rates. Impaxio also has built-in integations with airtime transfer services, allowing you to send airtime to 173+ countries. Currently, built-in integration is available for the following airtime transfer provider:


Third Party Network Provider's Availability of 2-Way SMS by Country

Country Telesign Africas Talking* Twilio
Australia Yes No Yes
Austria Yes No Yes
Bahrain Yes No No
Bangladesh Yes No No
Belgium Yes No No
Benin No Yes No
Bosnia and Herzegovina Yes No No
Brazil Yes No No
Bulgaria Yes No No
Burkina Faso No Yes No
Burundi No Yes No
Cameroon No Yes No
Canada Yes No Yes**
Chile Yes No Yes
China Yes No No
Colombia Yes No No
Conackry No Yes No
Côte d’Ivoire No Yes No
Croatia Yes No No
Czech Republic Yes No Yes
Denmark Yes No Yes
Dominican Republic Yes No No
Egypt No Yes No
Estonia Yes No Yes
Finland Yes No Yes
France Yes No No
Germany Yes No Yes
Ghana No Yes No
Greece Yes No No
Guam Yes No No
Guinea No Yes No
Hong Kong Yes No No
Hungary Yes No Yes
Iceland Yes No No
India Yes No No
Israel Yes No Yes
Italy Yes No Yes
Japan Yes No No
Kenya Yes Yes No
Latvia Yes No No
Lebanon Yes No No
Lesotho No Yes No
Lithuania Yes No Yes
Luxembourg Yes No No
Macedonia Yes No No
Malawi No Yes No
Malaysia Yes No No
Mali No Yes No
Mauritius Yes No No
Mexico Yes No No
Namibia Yes Yes No
Netherlands Yes No Yes
New Zealand Yes No No
Niger No Yes No
Nigeria No Yes No
Norway Yes No No
Philippines Yes No Yes
Poland Yes No Yes
Portugal Yes No Yes
Puerto Rico Yes No Yes
Romania Yes No No
Russia Yes No No
Rwanda No Yes No
Senegal No Yes No
Serbia Yes No No
Singapore Yes No No
Slovakia Yes No No
Slovenia Yes No No
South Africa Yes Yes Yes
South Korea Yes No No
Spain Yes No No
Swaziland No Yes No
Sweden Yes No Yes
Switzerland Yes No Yes
Taiwan Yes No No
Tanzania No Yes No
Thailand Yes No No
Togo No Yes No
Uganda No Yes No
Ukraine Yes No No
United Kingdom Yes No Yes**
United States Yes No Yes**
Zambia No Yes No

* Africas's Talking provides fast shortcodes in all countries marked "Yes".

** for these countries, Twilio provides high-throughput SMS shortcodes

Don't find your country on the list or would you like to integrate with another SMS gateway? Still have questions? Contact us - we are happy to help!

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