If your organization sends SMS messages to U.S. phone numbers, you must use 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) for business messaging.
10DLC is the current carrier-approved standard for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging in the United States. This article explains what 10DLC is, why registration is required, and how to get started.
What is 10DLC?
10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code. It is a messaging channel created by mobile carriers specifically for business-to-consumer SMS use cases.
Unlike traditional person-to-person (P2P) texting, A2P messaging allows organizations to send structured business communications such as alerts, reminders, and promotions.
Common examples of A2P messaging include:
- Appointment reminders
- Account notifications
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) codes
- Delivery updates
- Marketing promotions
Previously, businesses relied on short codes or toll-free numbers for A2P messaging. 10DLC now allows organizations to use standard 10-digit phone numbers while meeting carrier compliance requirements.
10DLC Business Benefits
10DLC was designed to improve message delivery, reliability, and spam prevention for business messaging.
The key benefits of 10DLC include:
- Designed specifically for business messaging use cases
- Structured campaign types aligned to message purpose
- Ability to use standard 10-digit business phone numbers
- Support for higher message volumes
- Improved stability and carrier-level reliability
These improvements help ensure legitimate business messages are delivered consistently while reducing unwanted or deceptive SMS traffic.
Why Registration Is Required
U.S. mobile carriers require businesses to register their brand and campaign before sending A2P messages through 10DLC.
Registration serves two primary purposes:
- Protect consumers from spam and fraudulent messaging
- Ensure legitimate business messages are not filtered or blocked
Without registration, business SMS traffic to U.S. numbers may be rejected or flagged as spam.
Registration includes:
- A one-time Brand Registration fee
- A monthly Campaign fee (Standard or Specialized)
These fees are collected by net2phone Canada and passed directly to The Campaign Registry. net2phone Canada does not add surcharges or profit from these regulatory fees.
How Registration Works
To use 10DLC messaging, your organization must complete a registration form through The Campaign Registry.
During registration:
- Your company is submitted as a Brand.
- Your SMS use case is submitted as a Campaign.
Once your Brand and Campaign are approved, net2phone Canada will confirm that A2P SMS messaging to U.S. numbers is ready for use.
Next Steps
Before registering, review the resources below to ensure your campaign is structured correctly.
Refer to our 10DLC articles to guide you through the process:
- Choosing a 10DLC Campaign Type.
- 10DLC Messaging Compliance Requirements.
- 10DLC Campaign Registry Form Instructions.
If you are ready to begin registration, follow the step-by-step form guide to complete your submission