The End of Unregistered 10-digit Numbers for A2P texting in US

The regulatory space for 10-digit long code (10DLC) messaging has changed significantly, with U.S. carriers set to block all unregistered 10DLC traffic starting December 7, 2024. This cutoff marks the complete transition to requiring registered 10DLC routes for messaging.

Organizations currently using unregistered numbers to send texts in the US must act immediately to register and comply with these requirements to avoid disruptions in their messaging services. Compliance involves registering a Brand and associated campaigns through The Campaign Registry (TCR), ensuring all traffic aligns with carrier standards.

10DLC Registration:

1. What is 10DLC?

   • 10DLC is a messaging standard that allows businesses to send application-to-person (A2P) text messages using local phone numbers. Registration is mandatory to ensure these messages meet carrier standards and avoid being blocked.

2. Registration Process:

   • Businesses must register their brand, which involves verifying their EIN (Employer Identification Number) and legal name.
   • Each messaging use case (e.g., marketing or notifications) requires a campaign registration. Fees apply for both processes, usually around $4 for brand registration and $45 per campaign or use case.

3. Benefits of Registration:

   • Registered traffic experiences better deliverability, reduced likelihood of filtering, and improved recipient trust. Compliance also minimizes disruptions and aligns businesses with carrier expectations.

Note: If you have registered for 10DLC and use an unregistered number for texting in your texting or Call Center campaigns, your campaign will be automatically paused. 

You must choose the use case and the rented 10DLC number to resume your campaign(s). 

Alternatives for Registered Texting:

While there is no direct alternative for 10DLC, we recommend users register their organization for Verified Toll-Free messaging or Dedicated Shortcode. 

1. Toll-Free Messaging: Toll-free messaging is used to send text messages from toll-free numbers (8XX) to textable mobile numbers. To register your organization for a Toll-free number, kindly contact the Support team or fill in the form. 
2. Dedicated Shortcode: Dedicated shortcodes are 5-6 digit SMS-enabled numbers that an organization can use for sending and receiving messages. Dedicated shortcodes provide a much higher sending rate for both SMS and MMS with a good throughput and help achieve good delivery rates. To know more about Dedicated Shortcodes, click here.