A telecommunications provider that sends, transits or terminates sender identification messages must apply to the ACMA for an approval under section 484F of the Act.
Note: An entity that holds an approval under section 484F of the Act may apply to the ACMA for a sender identification to be registered in the Register under section 484G of the Act.
8 Application to be a certified telecommunications provider
A participating telecommunications provider that wishes to:
make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register; and
send sender identification messages;
on behalf of a non-ABN entity must apply to the ACMA for approval to be a certified telecommunications provider.
Note: A participating telecommunications provider can apply to the ACMA for approval to be a certified telecommunications provider under a determination made under section 484L of the Act.
9 Requirements to provide information to entities
Requirements regarding existing customers – before 1 July 2026
A participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider must contact each of its existing customers before 1 July 2026 to:
provide to the customer, in writing, the information in Schedule 1; and
subject to subsection (4), offer to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of the customer.
Requirements regarding prospective customers seeking to use a new sender identification
If:
a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider receives a request from a prospective customer, who asks the provider to send a sender identification message on behalf of the customer; and
the provider agrees to provide that service; and
the sender identification is not registered in the Register,
the provider must:
provide to the customer, in writing, the information in Schedule 1; and
subject to subsection (4), offer to make an application for registration of the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the customer.
Requirements regarding existing customers using a new sender identification
If:
a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider receives a request from an existing customer, who asks the provider to send a sender identification message on behalf of the customer; and
the sender identification is not registered in the Register,
the provider must:
provide to the customer, in writing, the information in Schedule 1; and
subject to subsection (4), offer to make an application for registration of the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the customer.
Where the customer is a non-ABN entity, the requirement in each of paragraphs (1)(b), (2)(e) and (3)(d) does not apply, unless the provider is a certified telecommunications provider.
10 Requirement to publish information
All originating telecommunications providers must make available on their website the information about the Register referred to in Schedule 1.
11 Requirements relating to the registration of sender identifications on behalf of an ABN entity
Requirements for a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider
Subject to subsection (2), if:
an ABN entity requests a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity; and
the provider agrees to send sender identification messages on behalf of the entity;
the provider must make an application for registration of the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity.
Before making the application, the provider must ask the entity if it is an entity associate for another entity.
If the entity is an entity associate for another entity (the other entity), the provider must:
apply to the ACMA for an approval on behalf of the entity associate under section 484F of the Act; and
confirm with the other entity that the entity associate is authorised by the other entity to send a sender identification message that includes that other entity’s sender identification registered in the Register; and
subject to paragraph (b), if the sender identification is not registered in the Register – make an application for registration of the sender identification on behalf of the other entity.
Before making an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of an ABN entity, a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider must establish that the entity has a valid use case for the sender identification by:
confirming that:
there is a sender identification match for the entity in relation to the registered business name of the entity in the Business Names Register; and
the status of the business name of the entity is “registered”; or
confirming that:
there is a sender identification match for the entity in relation to the company name of the entity in the Australian Business Register; and
the status of the ABN relating to the entity is “active”; or
confirming that:
there is a sender identification match for the entity in relation to a trade mark owned by the entity and included in the Register of Trade Marks or an equivalent international register of trademarks; and
the status of the trademark owned by the entity is “registered”; or
confirming that:
there is a sender identification match for the entity in relation to a registered domain name of which the entity is the “registrant” in the whois.auda.org.au database; and
either,
the registered domain name is used for a website:
that can be accessed via the internet at the time that the valid use case is being confirmed; and
which the provider believes on reasonable grounds is a legitimate website; or
the registered domain name is used for an email account to which the provider has sent an email at the time that the valid use case is being confirmed and, the provider has not received a notification from the email server that the email message was not able to be delivered.
Subsection (4) does not apply where:
the ABN entity is a government agency that intends to use a sender identification in relation to which there is no sender identification match for the entity; and
the sender identification relates to an emergency, or a matter of public health, safety or security; and
the entity has provided evidence to the provider that satisfies the provider of the reason why the agency intends to use the sender identification rather than its registered business name, company name, trademark or registered domain name, as relevant.
Requirements for a certified telecommunications provider
If:
an ABN entity requests a certified telecommunications provider to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity; and
the provider agrees to send sender identification messages on behalf of the entity;
subject to subsection (7), the provider must make an application for registration of the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity.
Before making the application, the provider must comply with subsections 12(4) and (5), as if the ABN entity were a non-ABN entity.
12 Requirements relating to the registration of sender identifications on behalf of a non-ABN entity
Subject to subsection (2), if:
a non-ABN entity requests a certified telecommunications provider to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity; and
the provider agrees to send sender identification messages on behalf of the entity;
the provider must make an application for registration of the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity.
Before making the application, the provider must ask the entity if it is an entity associate for another entity.
If the entity is an entity associate for another entity (the other entity), the provider must:
apply to the ACMA for an approval on behalf of the entity associate under section 484F of the Act; and
confirm with the other entity that the entity associate is authorised by the other entity to send sender identification messages that includes that other entity’s sender identification registered in the Register; and
subject to paragraph (b), if the sender identification is not registered in the Register – make an application for registration of the sender identification on behalf of the other entity.
Before making the application, the provider must do the following:
confirm the identity of the person who has requested the provider to make the application on behalf of the entity, using an identity verification service; and
confirm that the person is an authorised representative of the entity; and
confirm that the entity has been officially recognised or certified by a governing body, regulatory authority or accreditation organisation in the country in which the entity is based; and
establish that the entity has a valid use case for the sender identification by confirming that there is a sender identification match for the entity using a trademark register or an official register or record in the country in which the entity is based.
Note: For example, the provider may check that the entity is listed on an official business register for the country in which the entity is based, or that it has been accredited by an industry association.
Subsection (4) does not apply where:
the non-ABN entity is a government agency that intends to use a sender identification in relation to which there is no sender identification match for the entity; and
that sender identification relates to an emergency, or a matter of public health, safety or security; and
the entity has provided evidence to the provider that satisfies the provider of the reason why the agency intends to use the sender identification rather than its trademark or name on an official register or record in the country in which the entity is based, as relevant.
A certified telecommunications provider must ensure that the contact details in the Register, including email address, for a non-ABN entity on whose behalf the provider has made an application to register a sender identification, are current.
Note: The ACMA will send to a non-ABN entity notifications relating to the registration of a sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity.
13 Requirements relating to the registration of sender identifications for an international partner or an EMSP partner
International partners
If:
an international partner requests:
a certified telecommunications provider to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register, for the partner, on behalf of a non-ABN entity or an ABN entity; or
a participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider, and that is not a certified telecommunications provider, to make an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register, for the partner, on behalf of an ABN entity; and
the provider agrees to send sender identification messages for the partner;
the provider must make an application for registration of the entity’s sender identification in the Register, for the partner, on behalf of the ABN entity.
Subject to subsection (4), before making the application under subparagraph 13(1)(a)(i), the provider must have made written contractual arrangements with the international partner, which:
remain in force for as long as the partner is involved in the sending of sender identification messages; and
require the partner to perform the confirmations at paragraphs 12(4)(a), (b) and (c).
Note: For an application made under subparagraph 13(1)(a)(ii), the confirmations in paragraph (b) will be undertaken by the ACMA via the Register system.
Subject to subsection (4), before making the application under subparagraph 13(1)(a)(i) or (ii), the provider must have made written contractual arrangements with the international partner which:
remain in force for as long as the partner is involved in the sending of sender identification messages; and
require the international partner to establish that the entity on whose behalf the sender identification is to be registered has a valid use case for the sender identification:
for a non-ABN entity – by confirming that there is a sender identification match for the entity by using by using one of the confirmation methods mentioned in paragraph 12(4)(d); or
for an ABN entity – by confirming that there is a sender identification match for the entity by using one of the confirmation methods mentioned in subsection 11(4).
The requirements in subsections (2) and (3) do not apply where the provider has made written contractual arrangements with the international partner to undertake the actions in subsections (2) and (3) on behalf of the international partner.
EMSP partner
A participating telecommunications provider who has partnered with an EMSP partner, must fulfill those obligations under this industry standard as agreed with the EMSP partner.
Notifications
Within 24 hours of receipt by a certified telecommunications partner of:
a notice of decision given by the ACMA under Part 24B of the Act, in relation to an application for registration of a sender identification in the Register made by a certified telecommunications provider on behalf of an international partner or an EMSP partner; or
a notice given by the ACMA relating to a sender identification that has been registered in response to an application made by a certified telecommunications provider on behalf of an international partner or an EMSP partner; or
a request from an international partner or an EMSP partner asking for the removal of a sender identification from the Register;
the provider must provide the notice to the international partner or EMSP partner or action the request, as relevant.
14 Requirement not to mislead
A participating telecommunications provider must not, in any communication with an entity, expressly or impliedly indicate that the sender identification messages can only be sent by the telecommunications provider that made the application to register the sender identification in the Register on behalf of the entity.
Note: Messages containing a sender identification can be sent by more than one participating telecommunications provider.
Part Part 2 - Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard 2025 - Requirements relating to the Register | Zoe