A2P 10DLC is the U.S. registration framework for businesses sending application-to-person SMS or MMS from standard 10-digit phone numbers. Registration helps carriers identify legitimate business traffic, reduce filtering, and apply the correct messaging fees. Unregistered traffic may be blocked or subject to additional carrier charges.
What Is A2P 10DLC?
A2P 10DLC applies to business messaging sent to U.S. recipients using standard 10-digit long code phone numbers.
It does not apply to Toll-Free or short code messaging, which follow separate registration requirements.
Why Registration Is Required
Registration helps carriers verify who is sending messages, what type of messages are being sent, and how recipients provide consent.
Registered messaging can help:
- Reduce filtering and blocking.
- Support higher approved messaging volumes.
- Improve carrier trust.
- Keep business messaging aligned with U.S. carrier requirements.
Important: Messages sent from unregistered 10-digit long code numbers to U.S. recipients may be blocked.
A2P 10DLC Registration Options
The registration type depends on the business structure and expected messaging volume.
Common registration types include:
- Sole Proprietor: Intended for eligible individuals or very small businesses without a business tax ID.
- Low Volume Standard: Designed for registered businesses with lower messaging volume.
- Standard: Intended for registered businesses with higher messaging requirements.
The registration process typically includes:
- Registering the business or brand.
- Submitting the messaging campaign or use case.
- Providing sample messages and opt-in information.
- Waiting for approval.
- Connecting approved phone numbers to the registered campaign.
A2P 10DLC Fees
A2P 10DLC can include two main types of fees.
Registration Fees
Registration fees may include:
- Brand registration
- Campaign vetting
- Campaign registration
- Recurring campaign fees
The exact amount depends on the registration type and campaign use case.
Carrier Fees
Mobile carriers may charge additional fees for SMS and MMS messages sent through A2P 10DLC.
Carrier fees can vary based on:
- Destination carrier
- SMS or MMS
- Registered status
- Direction of the message
- Campaign type
Carrier pricing can change over time, so review current billing information before estimating messaging costs.
Message Segments and Carrier Charges
SMS billing is often based on message segments rather than individual messages.
A standard SMS can contain up to approximately 160 characters when using basic characters. Longer messages may be divided into multiple billable segments.
For example, one long SMS may result in two or more message segments and therefore multiple messaging charges.
MMS messages are typically billed separately from SMS segments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does A2P 10DLC apply to all business SMS messages?
A2P 10DLC applies to application-to-person messaging sent to U.S. recipients using standard 10-digit long code numbers. This can include marketing messages, reminders, notifications, billing alerts, and other automated business communication.
Q: Does A2P 10DLC apply to Toll-Free numbers?
No. Toll-Free numbers follow a separate messaging verification process.
Q: Can I send messages before registration is approved?
Unregistered or unapproved traffic may be filtered or blocked. Complete registration before relying on a 10-digit long code number for U.S. business messaging.
Q: Are there fees for A2P 10DLC registration?
Yes. Brand registration, campaign registration, recurring campaign fees, and carrier messaging fees may apply.
Q: Why does one SMS sometimes create multiple charges?
Longer SMS messages can be split into multiple message segments. Each segment may be billed separately.
Q: Where can I review messaging charges?
Review your billing or transaction records to see registration, campaign, and messaging-related charges.
Need Help?
If your A2P 10DLC registration, campaign, or messaging charges do not look as expected, first review the registration status and recent messaging activity.
Verify that:
- The business or brand registration is approved.
- The campaign is approved and active.
- The correct phone numbers are connected to the approved campaign.
- Messages are being sent through registered 10-digit long code numbers.
- The messaging use case matches the approved campaign.
- Long messages are not creating more SMS segments than expected.
- SMS and MMS charges are being reviewed separately.
- Carrier and recurring campaign fees are included when reviewing total messaging costs.
If the issue continues, collect the brand status, campaign status, affected phone number, message type, segment count, and relevant billing details before contacting support.