[co-author: Clarissa Kwee]
From 1 July 2026, entities that use an alphanumeric sender ID for SMS/MMS messages in Australia must register that ID on the SMS Sender ID Register.
Sender IDs are used to send SMS/MMS messages from a named entity (i.e. a name displayed at the top of a text message to show who the message is from) rather than a phone number. For example, a text message received from “DLA Piper”.
Sender IDs are commonly used by businesses and Government organisations for a wide variety of communications, such as delivery updates, marketing and reminders of overdue payments. The requirement to register Sender IDs applies regardless of the content of the message in question (i.e. not just for marketing messages).
Failure to register on the SMS Sender ID Register will result in branded messages being flagged as ‘Unverified’ on the recipients’ device. All unverified messages will be grouped together in a single message thread, indicating to recipients that the messages may be a scam.
Introduced as part of the Australian Government’s Fighting Scams campaign, the SMS Sender ID Register ensures that all sender IDs are verified and traceable to combat the rise of scam messages. Scammers often impersonate trusted brands by hijacking sender IDs and making fraudulent messages appear legitimate, with Australians losing $13.8 million to SMS scams in the first nine months of 2025 alone. The spam regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has stated that “once established, [the SMS Sender ID Register] will help restore confidence in branded SMS communications”.
Next Steps
Entities must register the sender ID(s) they wish to use by 15 May 2026 through their telecommunications or messaging providers. This involves:
- For entities with an Australian Business Number (ABN): establishing a “valid use case” for each sender ID they wish to register, meaning the sender ID(s) must align with the entity’s registered business name, company name, trade mark, or domain name. The entity’s authorised representative must also verify their own identity, as well as their authority to act on behalf of the entity.
- For entities without an ABN: demonstrating that they are officially recognised or certified by a governing body, regulator or accreditation authority in their country of operation. The entity’s authorised representative must also verify their identity.
Entities that send messages from a standard phone number without a sender ID do not need to take any action.
ACMA has prepared detailed guidance on the process, which is available here.
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