RCS in the UK
RCS Business Messaging is well established in the UK - supported by all four major operators on both Android and iPhone, reaching around 80% of devices.
Here's the current state of RCS in the UK: which operators support it, which devices can receive it, and how many people you can reach right now. With SendRCS you can start today and let automatic SMS fallback cover everyone else.
RCS Business Messaging in the UK
RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the modern successor to SMS. It lets businesses send branded, interactive messages - images, buttons, carousels and read receipts - straight to the native messaging app on a customer's phone. In the UK, RCS is now a mainstream channel across every major network.
Today, RCS Business Messaging in the UK is supported by all four major operators - EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three, on both Android and iPhone. iOS support rolled out network by network and is now complete, putting combined device reach at around 80%.
With roughly 80% of UK devices RCS-capable, the UK is well suited to campaigns at scale. Business-addressable reach can be a little lower - the UK's large MVNO market is the main gap, as virtual operators enable RCS at their own pace - and with SendRCS, anything that can't be delivered as RCS automatically falls back to SMS, so you always reach 100% of your contacts.
RCS in the UK at a glance
A quick snapshot of RCS availability in the UK, updated as the rollout progresses.
RCS in the UK
- Reach today: Around 80% of devices in the UK are RCS-capable across all four major networks.
- Operator support: Supported by all four major operators - EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three.
- Supported devices: Available on both Android and iPhone (iOS) today.
- Best for: Campaigns at scale across a fully addressable, four-operator market on both Android and iPhone.
RCS in the UK, answered
Is RCS available in the UK?
Yes. RCS is a mainstream channel in the UK - all four major operators (EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three) support it on both Android and iPhone, reaching around 80% of devices.
Which mobile operators support RCS in the UK?
All four major UK operators support RCS: EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three, including sub-brands such as Tesco Mobile and giffgaff on O2.
Can iPhones in the UK receive RCS?
Yes. iPhones in the UK can receive RCS. iOS support rolled out network by network and now covers all four major operators - EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three.
How many people in the UK can receive RCS messages?
Around 80% of UK devices are RCS-capable. Business-addressable reach can be a little lower, mainly because the UK's large MVNO market enables RCS at its own pace.
Can I send RCS messages in the UK today?
Yes. The UK is ready for RCS at scale with SendRCS. Anyone who can't receive RCS automatically gets your message as an SMS fallback, so you always reach 100% of your contacts.
Ready to try RCS in the UK?
Start building and testing your RCS campaigns today. SendRCS reaches every RCS-enabled device in the UK and automatically falls back to SMS for everyone else - so you reach 100% of your contacts.
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- Automatic SMS fallback for 100% reach
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