SNS: Phone carrier has blocked this message when message includes URL

Question

Hi, I was using SNS to send transactional SMS. When ever the message contains a URL, I get error message that the "Phone carrier has blocked this message" from the Delivery status logs. The carrier is T-Mobile. The message is: "Thanks for attending our GW004 event at GW004! see for dets-  aws3.link/nkhNzy". It gets delivered if I remove the link from message body.

`@message
{"notification":{"messageId":"91a4663a-61bb-575a-9f06-3a79c825faed","timestamp":"2023-01-19 20:26:06.957"},"delivery":{"phoneCarrier":"T-mobile USA Inc.","mnc":800,"numberOfMessageParts":1,"destination":"+12244328742","priceInUSD":0.00831,"smsType":"Transactional","mcc":310,"providerResponse":"Phone carrier has blocked this message","dwellTimeMs":22,"dwellTimeMsUntilDeviceAck":1160},"status":"FAILURE"}
@timestamp
1674159970707

delivery.phoneCarrier
T-mobile USA Inc.
delivery.priceInUSD
0.00831
delivery.providerResponse
Phone carrier has blocked this message
delivery.smsType
Transactional
`
Could you please let me know what I could do?

Thanks!

Answer

Mobile carriers restrict the domains that can be included in SMS messages in order to protect their customers. URLs associated with **free** link-shortening services are likely to get filtered. The carriers are more likely to accept messages with shortened URLs if those URLs are created using **paid** services that let you use your own branded domain.

SNS: Phone carrier has blocked this message when message includes URL

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