Get Ready for the New SMS ID Register: Regulator Urges Action
▼ Summary
– The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) now requires organizations to register branded SMS sender IDs like “myGov” with their telco provider.
– The SMS Sender ID Register aims to protect against scammers impersonating trusted brands through text messages, reducing financial and psychological harm.
– Starting July 2026, only registered sender IDs will be displayed normally, while unregistered ones will appear in an “Unverified” message thread to indicate potential scams.
– Telcos and electronic message service providers must apply to participate in the register by October 2025 and help businesses register sender IDs by proving legitimate use.
– Organizations using sender IDs, including banks and retailers, are urged to contact their telco providers now to prepare for the July 2026 registration deadline.
A significant new regulation from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will soon require all organizations using branded SMS sender names to register them with their telecommunications provider. This initiative, known as the SMS Sender ID Register, is designed to provide stronger safeguards against scammers who impersonate trusted brands through text messages.
ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin emphasized the serious impact of impersonation scams, which often result in substantial financial harm and emotional distress for victims. She explained that once the system is active in mid-2026, the public can place greater trust in messages displaying a registered sender ID. Messages sent from unregistered IDs will be grouped into a single “Unverified” message thread on mobile devices, alerting recipients to a potential scam.
The new rules will also reshape how telecommunications carriers and electronic message service providers (EMSPs) conduct business. These providers must now require every business or organization using a sender ID to register it and demonstrate a legitimate need for its use.
O’Loughlin urged all sender ID users, including banks, healthcare providers, retailers, utility companies, and not-for-profits, to begin discussions with their telco providers immediately. “July 2026 will arrive sooner than expected,” she noted. “Taking action now ensures your sender IDs are properly registered, giving your customers confidence that the messages they receive are genuinely from you and not a fraudulent source.”
A clear timeline has been established for implementation:
Starting October 15, 2025, telcos and EMSPs must apply to the ACMA for authorization to participate in the SMS Sender ID Register and continue transmitting messages with sender IDs.
Participating providers are also required to inform their business clients about registration obligations and to educate consumers on what to expect once the register becomes operational.
The Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard 2025 was developed under a directive from Communications Minister Anika Wells. Its creation involved two rounds of public consultation to incorporate feedback and address stakeholder concerns.
For detailed information about how the SMS Sender ID Register will function, along with answers to frequently asked questions, visit the ACMA’s official webpage.
(Source: ITWire Australia)