The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is inviting feedback on updated rules for Australia’s SMS ID Register, set to launch on 15 December 2025.
Any organisation that has not adapted to the new Sender ID rules will not be able to get their SMS and MMS messages with sender IDs through to customers after 15 December 2025.
The consultation responds to specific matters raised in an initial consultation in March and April on a draft Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard. It focusses on arrangements to ensure international entities and entities without an Australian Business Number (ABN) can participate in the register.
The ACMA is also seeking feedback on expanding these rules beyond telcos to capture electronic messaging providers that send SMS or MMS on behalf of businesses and other organisations.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said that feedback on its draft Standard identified critical changes needed to make sure the Register would be effective in stopping scam traffic while allowing legitimate SMS traffic to be delivered.
“These arrangements will directly affect how telcos and message service providers operate. They will also require every business or agency seeking to use a sender ID to register it and prove they have a valid reason for its use.
“This is a call to action for all organisations who use sender IDs including banks, retailers, utilities and not-for-profits. You need to start preparing now to be able to continue to use this method to contact your customers from mid-December this year,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
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The ACMA is proposing that:
- unregistered sender IDs will be over-stamped with the word ‘Unverified’ from 15 December 2025. This means that all unregistered messages will appear in a single ‘Unverified’ message thread on mobile phones
- international entities and Australian entities without an ABN will be able to register sender IDs directly with telcos certified by the ACMA, and
- telcos not approved to participate in the scheme will not be allowed to carry SMS or MMS using sender IDs.
“Organised crime syndicates are now impersonating respected brands to scam Australians. Our ultimate aim is to help to restore consumer confidence that the brand identified in an SMS sent using text-based sender IDs is legitimate and can be trusted,” Ms O’Loughlin said.
The ACMA will make the rules that will support the register by 30 September 2025, in accordance with a direction from the Minister for Communications, the Hon Anika Wells MP. Onboarding of telcos will commence from 15 October 2025 and entities will need to register their IDs with telcos from 30 November 2025.
Adrianne Saplagio is a Content Producer at Comms Room, where she combines her passion for storytelling with her expertise in multimedia content creation. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for engaging audiences, Adrianne has been instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that resonate across various digital platforms.
