Do I need to register my Sender ID?

Starting 1 July 2026, new regulations require all businesses sending SMS into Australia from a branded Sender ID (e.g., messages appearing as ‘YourBank’ instead of a phone number) to register their Sender ID with the official SMS Sender ID Register. 


For more information on the register, please visit the ACMA website: https://www.acma.gov.au/about-register


Do I need to register if I'm sending from a longcode (numeric sender)? 

The rules do not apply to text messages from phone numbers instead of a branded sender ID.


What happens if my Sender ID isn't registered with ACMA?

Businesses and organisations must register their sender IDs before 1 July 2026. From then, text messages sent with unregistered sender IDs will have the sender ID replaced with the word "Unverified". These messages will be grouped together in a single message thread on a phone.


What information do I need before registering my Sender ID?

For a complete list of prerequisites and required information, please refer to our support article below:
https://support.tallbob.com/support/solutions/articles/17000150536-pre-re-requisites-for-sender-id-registration


How do I set up my business in the ACMA Sender ID Register (ACMA Assist)?

Before registering a Sender ID, your business must first be set up in the ACMA system. Please refer to ACMA’s official guide on accessing the register for the first time: https://www.acma.gov.au/41-accessing-register-first-time


This guide outlines how to verify your business details and authorised representatives.


What are the requirements for Sender IDs?

To be eligible for registration, Sender IDs must comply with the following ACMA requirements:

  • Be 2–11 characters long.
  • Use ASCII characters 32–126.
  • Not consist only of numbers.
  • Not contain spaces/underscores at the beginning or end.
  • Not be misleading, deceptive, or offensive


It is important to ensure your Sender ID strictly follows these guidelines to avoid rejection during the registration process.


Are there any restricted or prohibited words in Sender IDs?

Certain terms are restricted and cannot be used in Sender IDs. These typically include words that could mislead recipients or impersonate government bodies, financial institutions, or emergency services.


For the full list of restricted terms, please refer to ACMA’s official page:
https://www.acma.gov.au/restricted-terms-sender-ids


Who is my Authorised Representative?

The Authorised Representative is someone in the business who can sign off on the sender ID in ACMA Assist. They must have the legal authority to act on behalf of the legal entity e.g. listed on the ABR Registry (e.g. CEO) or be registered in ACMA as a business administrator. For applications completed to date, this has typically been someone at the executive level or within the finance team. 


Can access be delegated in the ACMA Sender ID Register? 

Yes. There is an option for responsibility to be delegated to an additional business administrator to manage the process. Refer to ACMA's official documentation here:https://www.acma.gov.au/42-add-or-delete-other-business-administrators-and-authorised-users-acma-assist


What is the Business Name of Tall Bob in the ACMA Assist Portal?

Tall Bob is registered as an Originating and Transiting telco under the name Hyperlocal Pty Ltd. When Tall Bob submits the sender ID application to ACMA for their customer, the Authorised Representative of that business will receive an email notification that begins with the following message:


“The Australian Communications and Media Authority has received an application from Hyperlocal Pty Ltd to register the following Sender ID for <company name> on the SMS Sender ID Register:”


* Authorised Representative: The authorised representative is not the person submitting the application. They must have legal authority to act on behalf of the legal entity e.g. listed on ABR Registry (CEO) or registered in ACMA as a business administrator.