From 1 July 2026, businesses that send SMS messages using branded sender IDs in Australia will need to register those sender IDs under ACMA’s new SMS Sender ID Register.
It’s a major change designed to reduce SMS impersonation scams. If your business sends SMS alerts, reminders, authentication codes, marketing campaigns, or support notifications using a sender ID like “MyBrand” instead of a phone number, it’s important to understand what this means for you.
At Enfonica, we’re helping businesses prepare early. You can now register and manage your sender IDs directly from the Enfonica Console.
We’ve introduced a new SMS Sender ID Registry inside the Enfonica Console, allowing businesses to register and manage alphanumeric sender IDs for SMS to Australian numbers in a simple, self-service workflow.
The new Console experience makes it easier to:
- Submit sender ID registration requests
- Track the status of registrations
- Manage multiple sender IDs centrally
- Stay compliant with ACMA requirements
- Ensure your SMS messages clearly represent your brand
Whether you’re sending appointment reminders, alerts, verification codes, support notifications, or marketing campaigns, branded sender IDs help improve trust, recognition, and customer engagement.
What is the SMS Sender ID Register?
The SMS Sender ID Register is a new system introduced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to help protect businesses and consumers from SMS impersonation scams.
Scammers commonly send fraudulent SMS messages pretending to be trusted organisations such as banks, delivery companies, government agencies, or service providers. Because sender IDs can currently be spoofed, it can be difficult for consumers to tell whether a message is legitimate.
The new register introduces verification and accountability for sender IDs used in Australia.
From 1 July 2026:
- Only registered sender IDs can be used as verified branded senders
- Messages sent using unregistered sender IDs will appear as “Unverified” on supported mobile devices
- Unverified messages may be grouped alongside suspected scam messages
- Customers may become less likely to trust or engage with those messages
The goal is simple: make it easier for people to recognise legitimate business messages and harder for scammers to impersonate trusted brands.
What is a sender ID?
A sender ID is the name that appears as the sender of an SMS message instead of a phone number.
For example: MyBrand
Many businesses use sender IDs for transactional messaging, appointment reminders, two-factor authentication, support notifications, and marketing campaigns.
If your business currently sends SMS messages from a branded name rather than a mobile number, you’ll need to register those sender IDs. If you only send SMS messages from standard phone numbers, you do not need to take any action.
Why should you register your sender IDs?
Registering your sender IDs helps protect your brand and your customers.
Without registration, your SMS messages may appear as “Unverified” after 1 July 2026 — reducing trust and potentially impacting engagement and customer response rates.
For many businesses, SMS is now a critical communication channel. Whether you send appointment reminders, verification codes, outage alerts, delivery updates, or marketing campaigns, maintaining sender trust is increasingly important.
Key things to know before you start
Before submitting your registration, there are a few important things to understand about the process.
It’s a two-system process
You’ll submit your sender ID request through the Enfonica Console, but an authorised representative of your business must also confirm the registration in ACMA Assist, ACMA’s verification portal.
Registrations are provider-specific
If you use the same sender ID with multiple SMS providers, each provider must be separately authorised on the register.
You must be entitled to use the sender ID
Your sender ID should clearly relate to your business, such as:
- A registered business or company name
- A registered trademark
- A domain name your organisation owns
The process is not instant
Registration involves several stages, including:
- Enfonica review
- Lodgement with ACMA
- Verification in ACMA Assist
Businesses should allow time for the full process to complete before the July 2026 deadline.
Make sure your business identity details are ready
Before registering, it’s important to:
- Ensure your Australian Business Register (ABR) details are up to date
- Confirm the authorised representative has a myID account set up for ACMA Assist verification
Preparing this early can help avoid delays during approval.
Registering with Enfonica
Registrations for the SMS Sender ID Register are now open, with enforcement beginning on 1 July 2026.
Businesses can register multiple sender IDs where there is a legitimate use case, including separate sender IDs for support, alerts, or authentication messages. Multiple organisations may also be able to register the same sender ID where there is a valid use case.
International organisations can also register sender IDs through Enfonica.
As part of the registration process, ACMA will send verification requests to confirm identity and authorisation to act on behalf of the organisation. If a registration is rejected or later revoked, both the customer and Enfonica will be notified.
With the new Console experience, businesses can manage the registration process in a more streamlined and centralised way ahead of the July 2026 deadline.
Get ready
The introduction of the SMS Sender ID Register is one of the biggest changes to business SMS messaging in Australia in recent years.
Businesses that prepare early will be in the best position to maintain trusted communications and protect their brand from impersonation.
If you’d like help registering your sender IDs or understanding how these changes affect your SMS services, get in touch with the Enfonica team.
