The National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM) published the new rules on June 2, requiring businesses to obtain clear customer consent before sending marketing SMS messages. Mobile operators must also provide subscribers with a free option to block all promotional texts.
According to the INCM, the regulations are designed to strengthen consumer privacy, improve regulatory oversight, and make promotional messaging more transparent and traceable. Mobile operators have 60 days from the publication date to submit implementation plans, while the SMS blocking system must be fully operational within 180 days.
Once a customer activates the blocking service, they will no longer receive promotional messages, including gambling advertisements. The only exception applies to urgent alerts from verified senders, such as hospitals, ambulance services, and fire departments.
All other marketing messages—including betting promotions—may only be sent to customers who have explicitly opted in through their mobile provider.
The new framework also introduces tighter oversight of bulk SMS traffic. After a customer activates the blocking service, operators must ensure it takes effect immediately or within the shortest technically possible timeframe.
For betting companies, the changes are expected to significantly reduce the reach of SMS marketing campaigns, including free bet offers, bonus promotions, and odds updates, as customers who opt out will no longer receive such messages.
In addition, mobile operators are now required to monitor bulk messaging for abusive or suspicious activity. They must suspend questionable SMS traffic, preserve evidence, and notify the owner of the affected phone number.
If short codes are found to be misused, operators must block or suspend the service and report the incident directly to the regulator. Businesses that fail to comply with the new rules could face administrative sanctions, including service suspension or restrictions on access to telecommunications resources.
The regulations also require all Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging—including promotional, transactional, service, and one-time password (OTP) messages—to be routed through registered and auditable channels.
