A2P 10DLC number registration FAQs

What happens if I don’t register in time?

As of July 2023, all messages sent with unregistered 10DLC phone numbers are subject to gradual message blocking by Twilio.

There will be a full block of all unregistered US-bound messages sent after August 31, 2023. Your messages will bounce back error code (30034) and you will still be charged Twilio messaging rates.  Through August 31, 2023, unregistered messages successfully terminating onto carrier networks are subject to additional carrier fees for unregistered messages. 

Twilio is unable to extend the timeframe for customers who are unable to complete all three steps of the registration process by the deadline. This includes:

  • Brand verification
  • Campaign approval
  • Phone numbers submitted for the Messaging Service associated with each campaign

US Carrier penalties for non-compliant messaging

Shutdown of unregistered 10DLC Messaging FAQs

What alternatives do I have to registering my A2P 10DLC number?

As an alternative to A2P 10DLC, you can use other number types like short codesWhatsApp MessagingTwilio Verify API, and toll-free phone numbers. 

A lot of customers are seeing success with toll-free numbers because they can be used for any use case. They provide high-throughput SMS once verified and are voice enabled. And the verification process is handled by Twilio and usually takes less time than 10DLC approval. You can complete the toll-free verification via Console or API.

Why is the verification process taking a long time?  Campaign registrations are taking longer because there’s a human review process conducted by Twilio and our external vetting partner to manually check all the information provided by senders, review, and approve it.
I’m sending SMS for personal projects or a small business - do I still need to register?

Yes. There is a Sole Proprietor use case for hobbyist/student developers and businesses without an EIN (Employer Identification Number or Federal Tax Identification number). It lets you register and send A2P 10DLC messaging on a limited basis: 

  • One campaign
  • One associated phone number
  • 1,000 msg/day. 15 msg/minute limit per campaign (T-Mobile)
Who approves the registration requests? Twilio works with external vetting partners to review and approve 10DLC brand and campaign registration requests.
I’m not sending messages from a US 10DLC number to US phone numbers. Do I still need to register? No. If you’re not sending messages to US phone numbers from a US 10-digit long code number, you don’t need to complete the registration process.
What’s the difference between registering as an ISV, direct brand, or sole proprietor?

You can read about the differences between direct brands, ISVs, and sole proprietors here. If you’re still not sure whether you should register as a direct customer or ISV, here are two key questions to consider:

  1. Who do your end users (message recipients) think they are receiving messages from? Are they interacting with your brand/company, or your client’s brand?
    • If your end users are aware of your brand and think of their interaction as happening between them and your company, you are probably a direct customer.
    • If your end users are not aware of your business, and they think they are interacting with your client directly, you are an ISV.
  2. How much control do your clients/users have over the contents of the messages that are sent via your platform?
    • If you do messaging on behalf of others, but it’s template-based messaging with little to no customization or control by your clients, you may still classify yourself as a direct customer.
    • If you give your clients the ability to send messages on their behalf (which end users would assume are originating from your client directly) then you are an ISV.
How much do I have to pay for the registration process?
  • Standard registration: $44 one-time brand registration, +$15 per campaign for a one-time campaign vetting fee, +$1.50-$10 per campaign per month. 

This applies to ISVs and brands that have a business tax ID (EIN), and send over 6,000 segments per day, and need high throughput. 

  • Low-volume standard registration: $4 one-time brand registration, +$15 per campaign for a one-time campaign vetting fee, +$1.50-$10 per campaign per month.

This applies to ISVs and brands that have a business tax ID (EIN), and send less than 6,000 segments per day, and need low throughput.

  • Sole proprietor: $4 one-time brand registration, +$15 per campaign for a one-time campaign vetting fee, +$2 per campaign per month.

This applies to ISVs, individuals, and small businesses that do not have a business tax ID (EIN) and send less than 1,000 messages per day (T-Mobile) on one phone number through one campaign.

Review the fees and learn more about campaign vetting or compare Low-volume standard, Standard, and Sole proprietor options.

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