TLDR; Below is the English-translated version of China’s Provisions on the Administration of Communication Short Message Services (通信短信息服务管理规定, MIIT Order No. 74), promulgated February 9, 2026 and in effect since May 1, 2026.
If your company sends SMS or short messages to users in mainland China — for example through a messaging API or a CPaaS platform — these Provisions, in their current 2026 form (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Order No. 74, which replaces the 2015 Order No. 31), are the operative rules. Providing short-message services at all requires a telecommunications business operating license — for a typical messaging provider, the value-added, information-service category under the Telecommunications Business Licensing Measures — together with authorization to use telecommunications network number-code resources (Article 4). Senders must undergo real-name identity verification (Article 10); commercial short messages require the recipient’s prior consent or request and a convenient, effective way to opt out (Articles 21 to 23); port-type messages carry traceability and consent-proof duties (Articles 19 to 21); and providers must accurately record and retain send and receive records for no less than six months (Articles 13 and 20) while operating internal controls against telecom and online fraud (Article 16). Because the messages carry recipients’ personal information, these rules sit alongside the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and the Cybersecurity Law, which govern how that information may be collected, transmitted, and secured. Since they determine whether and how an overseas messaging service may lawfully reach Chinese recipients, they are a question to confirm with qualified counsel before you send.
Provisions on the Administration of Communication Short Message Services (Promulgated February 9, 2026 by Order No. 74 of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; effective May 1, 2026)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1. These Provisions are formulated in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Regulations on Telecommunications of the People’s Republic of China, and other laws and administrative regulations, in order to strengthen the administration of communication short message services, regulate the market order of communication short message services, protect the lawful rights and interests of users, and promote the healthy development of the communication short message services market.
Article 2. These Provisions apply to the provision of communication short message services within the territory of the People’s Republic of China and to the related supervision and administration.
Article 3. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is responsible for the supervision and administration of communication short message services nationwide. The communications administration bureaus of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for the supervision and administration of communication short message services within their respective administrative regions. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the communications administration bureaus of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are collectively referred to as the telecommunications regulatory authorities.
Article 4. The provision of communication short message services shall require obtaining, in accordance with law, a telecommunications business operating license and a license to use telecommunications network number-code resources.
Article 5. A short message service provider shall comply with laws and regulations and with relevant State provisions on telecommunications and cybersecurity administration, observe commercial ethics, accept the supervision of the government and society, and bear social responsibility.
Article 6. Users are responsible for the content, and the consequences of the content, of the communication short messages they send using communication short message services.
Article 7. Relevant industry associations shall, in accordance with laws and regulations and their organizational charters, strengthen industry self-regulation and regulate and guide short message service providers to operate lawfully and with integrity, so as to maintain a market order of fair competition.
Chapter II Service Standards
Section 1 General Rules
Article 8. A short message service provider shall provide services to users in accordance with the telecommunications service standards prescribed by the State. A short message service provider shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of laws and regulations, make public to society information such as its service scope and service time limits.
Article 9. A short message service provider shall formulate rules for communication short message services and shall inform users, by means such as a service contract or a network-access agreement, of the content relevant to them.
Article 10. When signing a service contract or a network-access agreement with a user, or confirming the provision of communication short message services, a short message service provider shall require the user to provide true identity information and shall verify it. Where a user does not provide true identity information, the short message service provider shall not provide the relevant services to that user.
Article 11. Where the provision of communication short message services requires charging users, the short message service provider shall ensure that the billing complies with the relevant laws, regulations, and telecommunications standards, and shall clearly inform the user in advance of information such as the service content, tariff standards, and method of charging.
Article 12. Where a short message service provider transmits communication short messages, it shall transmit the sending-end code number completely, truthfully, and accurately; it shall not transmit communication short messages with a false or fraudulently used sending-end code number, or lacking a sending-end code number.
Article 13. A short message service provider shall accurately record and retain information such as the sending and receiving times of communication short messages and the sending-end and receiving-end code numbers for no less than 6 months.
Article 14. A short message service provider shall establish and improve a user information protection system and take technical measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of user information.
Article 15. A short message service provider shall establish and implement a network and information security management system and strengthen the management of the communication short messages it transmits. Upon discovering communication short messages whose sending or transmission is prohibited by laws or administrative regulations, it shall immediately stop the transmission, take relevant disposal measures, prevent the spread of the information, preserve the relevant records, report to the competent authorities, and cooperate with investigations.
Article 16. A short message service provider shall establish an internal prevention-and-control mechanism against telecom and online fraud and a security responsibility system, implement the telecommunications regulatory authorities’ requirements for building technical countermeasures against telecom and online fraud, strengthen security assessments of fraud-related risks for new businesses, and perform its obligations to counter telecom and online fraud.
Section 2 Standards for Port-Type Short Message Services
Article 17. For the purposes of these Provisions, “port-type communication short messages” means communication short messages transmitted by a short message service provider using a communication short message port, including commercial short messages, business-management and service short messages, and public-interest short messages, among others.
Article 18. Where a short message service provider provides port-type short message services, it shall use port codes in accordance with the code structure, digit length, purpose, scope of use, and period of use approved by the telecommunications regulatory authorities. Where a short message service provider transmits commercial short messages and business-management and service short messages, it shall not mix the use of port codes.
Article 19. Where a short message service provider transmits port-type communication short messages, in addition to the matters prescribed in Article 12 of these Provisions, it shall simultaneously transmit the true identity of the sender of the communication short message and other information prescribed by laws and regulations, and shall be able to achieve effective traceability. The true identity of the sender of the communication short message shall be transmitted using the sender’s full name, abbreviated name, or a registered trademark lawfully obtained by the sender, or another means that can truthfully and clearly identify its true identity.
Article 20. Where a short message service provider transmits port-type communication short messages, in addition to the matters prescribed in Article 13 of these Provisions, it shall accurately record and retain the following information:
(1) the sub-port codes allocated to the sender and their purposes;
(2) the start and end times of providing communication short message services to the sender;
(3) the content of the communication short messages;
(4) the materials prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 21 of these Provisions.
The information prescribed in items (1) and (2) of the preceding paragraph shall be retained for no less than 6 months after the termination of service, and the information prescribed in items (3) and (4) shall be retained for no less than 6 months after the transmission of the communication short messages is completed.
Article 21. Where a short message service provider transmits commercial short messages, it shall require the sender to provide an undertaking or supporting materials showing that the recipient has consented to, or requested to receive, the commercial short messages. The sender is responsible for the authenticity of the materials provided. Where the sender does not provide the materials prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the short message service provider shall not transmit the corresponding commercial short messages for it.
Article 22. Where a short message service provider transmits commercial short messages, it shall provide a convenient and effective means of refusing receipt and shall inform the recipient of it together with the communication short message; it shall not, by any means, set up obstacles to a recipient’s refusal to receive commercial short messages.
Article 23. Where a short message service provider discovers that a sender has sent the relevant commercial short messages without the recipient’s consent or request, or that a recipient has expressly refused to receive the relevant commercial short messages, the short message service provider shall not again transmit the relevant commercial short messages to that recipient.
Article 24. A short message service provider shall establish and improve internal management systems and take corresponding technical measures to regulate and manage the time periods and frequency of the transmission of commercial short messages.
Article 25. Where the sending of public-interest short messages requires coordination by the telecommunications regulatory authorities, the relevant department of a people’s government at or above the provincial level shall, 10 working days in advance, provide the telecommunications regulatory authority at the same level with information such as the time of sending, the content, the scope, and the sending organization of the communication short messages; where the messages do not fall within public-interest short messages, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall promptly inform the relevant department and explain the reasons. Where matters involve the early warning and handling of natural disasters, accidents and disasters, public health events, and public security events, and the situation is urgent such that emergency public-interest short messages need to be sent first, the short message service provider shall promptly transmit them free of charge in accordance with the relevant emergency plans and mechanisms, and the relevant department shall promptly provide the telecommunications regulatory authority afterward with the information prescribed in the preceding paragraph.
Article 26. A basic telecommunications business operator shall strictly perform its access management responsibilities; accurately record information such as the name, unified social credit code, and contact information of the port-type short message service providers that access its public telecommunications network, as well as the port codes lawfully obtained and their access locations, intended uses, and communication short message sending templates; and take measures such as periodic verification to strengthen the management and supervision of port-type short message services. Upon discovering conduct that violates these Provisions, it shall take relevant disposal measures in accordance with laws and regulations or contractual stipulations. A basic telecommunications business operator shall not provide the network or service access used for port-type short message services to any organization or individual that has not obtained a telecommunications business operating license and a license to use telecommunications network number-code resources.
Chapter III Protection of Rights and Interests
Article 27. Basic telecommunications business operators and mobile communications resale business operators shall, in accordance with relevant State provisions, provide communication short message anti-harassment services to users who wish to refuse to receive commercial short messages. A basic telecommunications business operator shall provide the necessary facilitation for mobile communications resale business operators to provide the services prescribed in the preceding paragraph.
Article 28. A short message service provider shall establish a complaint-handling mechanism, make public effective and convenient contact information, and accept complaints related to communication short message services.
Article 29. Where a dispute arises between a user and a short message service provider over communication short message services, the user may, in accordance with law, lodge an appeal with the telecommunications regulatory authority or with the telecommunications user appeal-acceptance body entrusted by it.
Article 30. Where a telecommunications regulatory authority receives a report of conduct by a short message service provider that violates these Provisions, it shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions on handling reports in the telecommunications field, promptly accept and handle the report, strengthen the analysis and use of reported information, and carry out risk warnings and alerts. Where a telecommunications regulatory authority finds that a reported matter does not fall within its administrative duties, it shall promptly inform the reporting person to report to the relevant department, or transfer the matter to the relevant department for handling. Where the relevant department investigates and handles the reported matter prescribed in the preceding paragraph in accordance with law, the short message service provider and others shall cooperate.
Article 31. Complaints, appeals, and reports shall comply with laws, regulations, and relevant State provisions. No one may use a complaint, appeal, or report to seek improper benefits, infringe the lawful rights and interests of short message service providers and users, or disrupt the market order of communication short message services.
Chapter IV Supervision and Administration
Article 32. A telecommunications regulatory authority shall strengthen the supervision and inspection of communication short message services, and may take the following measures:
(1) conduct on-site inspections of short message service providers;
(2) enter premises of communication short message services suspected of violating the law to investigate and collect evidence;
(3) question the parties and the entities and individuals related to the matter under investigation, require them to explain matters related to the matter under investigation, or require them to provide, in the designated manner, documents and materials related to the matter under investigation;
(4) consult and copy documents and materials related to the matter under investigation;
(5) other measures prescribed by laws and administrative regulations.
Article 33. A telecommunications regulatory authority’s conduct of supervision and inspection shall not impede the normal business activities of a short message service provider, and no fees may be charged.
Article 34. Where a telecommunications regulatory authority, in the course of supervision and inspection, discovers that a short message service provider has engaged in conduct that violates telecommunications administration laws, regulations, or other provisions, it shall handle the matter in accordance with law and make a credit record thereof.
Article 35. A telecommunications regulatory authority and its staff have a statutory obligation to keep confidential the trade secrets, personal information, and personal privacy of which they become aware in the course of supervision and administration.
Chapter V Legal Liability
Article 36. Whoever, without obtaining in accordance with law a telecommunications business operating license and a license to use telecommunications network number-code resources, provides communication short message services without authorization shall be ordered by the telecommunications regulatory authority, pursuant to its authority, to make corrections, and shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations on Telecommunications of the People’s Republic of China and other laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules.
Article 37. Where a short message service provider violates these Provisions, the telecommunications regulatory authority shall, pursuant to its authority, order it to make corrections, and shall impose punishment in accordance with the provisions of the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Regulations on Telecommunications of the People’s Republic of China, and other laws, administrative regulations, and departmental rules.
Article 38. Where a staff member of a telecommunications regulatory authority abuses power, neglects duty, or engages in malpractice for personal gain in the supervision and administration of communication short message services, a sanction shall be imposed in accordance with law.
Article 39. Whoever violates these Provisions and constitutes a crime shall be held criminally liable in accordance with law.
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Article 40. For the purposes of these Provisions, the following terms have the meanings set out below:
(1) “communication short message services” means telecommunications services that use a public telecommunications network to transmit information of limited length, such as text, data, sound, and images, to users of communication terminals such as fixed-line telephones and mobile telephones, and does not include internet information services;
(2) “short message service provider” means a telecommunications business operator that provides communication short message services, including basic telecommunications business operators, information service business operators within value-added telecommunications services, and mobile communications resale business operators;
(3) “commercial short messages” means communication short messages that contain content such as the introduction or marketing of goods, services, or commercial investment opportunities;
(4) “business-management and service short messages” means communication short messages used to provide business management and services such as operation verification, system login, business reminders, and livelihood services;
(5) “public-interest short messages” means non-profit communication short messages sent to users by units such as the relevant departments of people’s governments at all levels, which are intended to serve the public interest of society, promote public order and good morals, prevent or handle emergencies, or remind the public to guard against and avoid disasters;
(6) “sending” means the act by which a sender of a communication short message presents the content of its communication short message to a recipient through the services provided by a short message service provider;
(7) “transmission” means the act by which a short message service provider delivers the content of a communication short message for the sender.
Article 41. Where the internet is used to provide, to users of communication terminals such as fixed-line telephones and mobile telephones, information-delivery services that bear the characteristics of communication short messages, such as text, data, sound, and images, these Provisions shall apply by reference. Where review by the relevant department is required according to law, the review and consent of the relevant department shall be obtained.
Article 42. These Provisions shall take effect on May 1, 2026.
Primary source: 《通信短信息服务管理规定》（工业和信息化部令第74号）, full text published in the State Council Gazette (2026 No. 15) by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: gov.cn. These Provisions supersede the earlier Provisions on the Administration of Communication Short Message Services issued as MIIT Order No. 31 of 2015.
This translation is ours and is provided for orientation only. Where the English and the Chinese differ, the Chinese governs. This page is not legal advice; confirm your position with qualified counsel.
