diff --git a/app/config.py b/app/config.py
index c50d8a6744..f69f9fdeb9 100644
--- a/app/config.py
+++ b/app/config.py
@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@ class Config(object):
     }
     CELERY_QUEUES: List[Any] = []
     CELERY_DELIVER_SMS_RATE_LIMIT = os.getenv("CELERY_DELIVER_SMS_RATE_LIMIT", "1/s")
+    AWS_SEND_SMS_BOTO_CALL_LATENCY = os.getenv("AWS_SEND_SMS_BOTO_CALL_LATENCY", 0.06)  # average delay in production
 
     CONTACT_FORM_EMAIL_ADDRESS = os.getenv("CONTACT_FORM_EMAIL_ADDRESS", "helpdesk@cds-snc.ca")
 
diff --git a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
index 1457f71f04..dfac94cb69 100644
--- a/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
+++ b/app/delivery/send_to_providers.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import os
 import re
 from datetime import datetime
+from time import sleep
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 from uuid import UUID
 
@@ -99,13 +100,16 @@ def send_sms_to_provider(notification):
 
         elif (
             validate_and_format_phone_number(notification.to, international=notification.international)
-            == Config.INTERNAL_TEST_NUMBER
+            == current_app.config["INTERNAL_TEST_NUMBER"]
         ):
-            current_app.logger.info(f"notification {notification.id} sending to internal test number. Not sending to AWS")
+            current_app.logger.info(f"notification {notification.id} sending to internal test number. Not sending to AWS.")
             notification.reference = send_sms_response(provider.get_name(), notification.to)
             notification.billable_units = template.fragment_count
             update_notification_to_sending(notification, provider)
-
+            current_app.logger.info(
+                f"Sleeping {current_app.config['AWS_SEND_SMS_BOTO_CALL_LATENCY']} seconds to simulate AWS boto call latency."
+            )
+            sleep(current_app.config["AWS_SEND_SMS_BOTO_CALL_LATENCY"])  # simulate boto3 client send_sms() delay
         else:
             try:
                 template_category_id = template_dict.get("template_category_id")