ACMA Compliance

Where can I find out more about the new regulatory requirements?

You can read more about the new rules on ACMA’s website. You can also read the new Code as a pdf. here

What is an Alphanumeric Source Mask?

When sending a message to the mobile networks for delivery to a mobile handset, a source (or MSISDN) is used. This value is what a text message appears from when arriving on the handset and limited to 11 characters.

In Australia, you can submit a ‘Sender ID’ or a ‘source mask’ so that the text message appears from a different value, like a company’s brand name i.e. MODICA, instead of a MSISDN (A number starting with +614)
A sender ID is a value defined by our customers either within your own systems and submitted to Modica via an API SMS Gateway or configured when using one a Modica off the shelf product.

I am not based in Australia, why is this change impacting me?

If you have received our email communication about the new ACMA rules, then you’re likely a customer who we have identified has the capability to send into Australia. The new rules apply to all messages that are sent to Australia, regardless of where the sender is based.

What information will I have to provide?

You will need to provide;

The sender id you want to use / register (including any variations of this);
The name, title and contact details of the person authorising or giving permission;
The general purpose of the service (i.e. for marketing alerts, 2FA etc); and
Confirmation that you have evidence of the valid use case to use the relevant Sender ID (valid use cases listed below); and
If you are sending on behalf of another company (for example, you are a messaging aggregator), an email or written evidence from an authorised person who has given permission to use the sender id (either from an email address that brand belongs to like a company email address)

What information does the person authorising need to provide?

Ideally the following should be included in the email body from the person authorizing the use of a company’s brand;

Their name and role;
That they authorise your company to use the list of ‘sender id’s for the purpose of sending messages to mobile handsets on their behalf;
The list of ‘sender id’s
Evidence of the their company’s valid use case to use the sender id, which may include as below.

What is a valid use case?

The Sole Trader name of the sender.
The Company name of the sender.
The Partnership name of the sender.
The registered Trust name of the sender.
The Co-Operative name of the sender.
The Indigenous Corporation name of the sender.
The Registered Organisation name of the sender.
The personal name of the sender.
An Australian or international trade mark registered by the sender.
The name of a Commonwealth, State or Territory government, or government agency or entity of the sender.
The name of a foreign government, government agency or entity of the sender.
A product or service of any of the above listed entities.
An acronym, initialism, or contraction of the sender.

Please note that generic terms such as ‘DoNotReply’ are not acceptable.

Does the person authorising the use of a company’s brand, need to have a particular job title?

No - as long as they are allowed to authorise the use of the brand for the purposes of sending text messages. It is up to that person to ensure they have authority from the right internal teams.