Bp Comms Alpha Tag Changes 1 July 2026

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is introducing a new SMS Sender ID Register from 1 July 2026. This reform is designed to protect Australians from scam and spam text messages.

Australians lost more than $13.8 million to text message scams in the first several months of 2025 alone, highlighting the importance of this initiative.

In this article:

What is a Sender ID (Alpha Tag)?

A Sender ID (also known as an alpha tag) is the name that displays at the top of your text message instead of a phone number. For example, you might see "ATO", "AusPost", or another company name that identifies who the SMS is from.

Fraudsters often impersonate trusted brands and companies using Sender IDs to either steal your data, your money, or both. This is why the ACMA is implementing stronger requirements for Sender ID registration and verification.

What changes from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the following changes will take effect:

  • Only registered Sender IDs will appear as branded text messages
  • Messages sent from unregistered IDs will be labelled as "unverified"
  • Unverified messages will be grouped together in a single message thread on your phone, signalling that they might be a scam

Telecommunications providers and message platforms must verify that they have a legitimate reason to use a Sender ID and that it corresponds to a business name, trademark, or domain associated with that organisation.

What should I do right now?

There are several things you can do now to prepare for the 1 July 2026 deadline.

Ensure your authorised business representative information is up to date.

The following information will be required during the ACMA registration process:

  • Your valid authorised business representative against your ABN via the Australian Business Register (ABR)
  • Verification that your authorised business representative's name, email and phone number are still correct
  • Confirmation that this authorised contact will be responsible for creating the initial ACMA Assist account, receiving communications from ACMA, and can delegate approval to another authorised user
  • Your practice website or online presence on a social media platform. This will be required to verify your organisation's legitimacy.

Set up an ACMA Assist account

An ACMA Assist account will be required to register a Sender ID. The authorised business representative on your ABN can set up this account and delegate approval in preparation:

NOTE  Delegating another user is optional; however practices may find this useful if they require another member of staff to complete the application process.

IMPORTANT   We are currently working with our SMS provider to facilitate Sender ID registration applications for every practice ahead of the 1 July 2026 deadline. There will be further steps required from you at your practice to approve the ACMA registration. We will share further updates and outline the next steps as soon as additional information becomes available.

What are Alpha Tags, and how are they used for Bp SMS?

An Alpha Tag is a custom alphanumeric sender ID used in place of a phone number for SMS messages. For example, the default configuration for Bp SMS users is that patients will see the sender as 'MyPractice' for messages sent from your practice instead of a complete phone number.

Alpha Tags also create one-way messaging, meaning that receivers cannot reply to these messages.

In Bp Premier, Alpha Tags are used for all messages sent for the following types:

  • Clinical Communication - for results, and messages sent from the clinical record,
  • Clinical Reminders,
  • Health Awareness - for messages sent in bulk via a database search.

Does this affect me?

I only use Bp Comms for appointment reminders. Does this impact me?

No, this change will not impact you. SMS must come from a mobile number in order for the reply to be received by your practice; an alpha tag is not required.

I send clinical reminders, health awareness and marketing messages. Does this impact me?

Yes, this change will impact you. In the coming months, Best Practice will reach out to you via email to gather more information to process the registration of your alpha tag.

I don't use Bp Comms. What is it and how can I get it?

Bp Comms is an integrated patient communication tool that allows you to send SMS directly to your patients from the clinical workflow. It makes it easier to deliver appointment reminders, health awareness campaigns, follow-ups, and other communications to your patients. The combination of automated messaging, reusable templates, recording of patient consent and built-in contact notes creates a complete audit trail. This will help reduce missed appointments, improve patient engagement, save on admin time, and maintain compliant, well-documented patient communication.

TIP   Between now and 1 July 2026, reach out to our account management team or fill in the enquiry form on our website.

I'm struggling to create an ACMA Assist account. Whom do I call?

You can contact the ACMA on 1300 850 115 or via email at info@acma.gov.au. You can also visit the ACMA contact page.

What happens if I don't register my Sender ID?

If you do not register your Sender ID by 1 July 2026, your messages will appear as "unverified" and will be grouped together in a single message thread on recipients' phones. This signals to recipients that the message might be a scam, which could significantly reduce the effectiveness of your patient communications.

The ACMA has already demonstrated its enforcement approach, having issued fines to Tabcorp, Lululemon, and Lycamobile for breaching spam requirements including sending messages without proper consent or adequate sending identification.

The SMS Sender ID Register represents a major step forward in protecting Australians against SMS scams, whilst encouraging responsible communication practices across all industries. For organisations, particularly in Australian healthcare, the ACMA's goal is clear: transparent consent processes, accurate sender identification, and regulatory compliance.

Last updated: 23 March 2026.