The Short Code Council (SCC) is a committee within the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) that consists of one voting representative from each of the participating wireless service providers. The SCC’s main role is to develop policies and maintain guidelines ensuring the appropriate use of common short codes.
Requirements for short code approval
The SCC reviews and approves all short codes in Canada on a per-case basis. To obtain a short code, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Establish SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) connectivity with the wireless service provider directly or indirectly through an aggregator.
- A completed application form, signed and dated, with an explicit agreement to terms and conditions and a non-refundable deposit.
- Your program must be accepted by two or more independent wireless service providers.
- A bilateral commercial agreement with the wireless service provider, directly or indirectly through an aggregator.
- Full adherence with the industry’s code of conduct and the Canadian Common Short Code Application Guidelines, while staying compliant with Canadian laws and regulations.
How long does it take until your short code becomes available?
Once you establish connectivity with the wireless service providers, you need to wait a minimum of 20–35 days from the time your application is approved until it becomes available. Since short codes are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and provisioning depends on the volume of submitted applications, new short code provisioning can take up to 3 to 4 months.
What is the brownout period?
Canada has specific deadlines for submitting new short code applications. During a particular time of the year, known as the brownout period, wireless service providers don’t approve new short code applications. While the exact dates may vary, the brownout period typically runs from mid-November to mid-January.
Which short codes are available?
As part of the inter-carrier initiative, Canadian short codes are standardized to be 5 or 6 digits long. Short codes beginning with a 4 or 0 are reserved and unavailable for public use, as you can see from the tables below:
| 5 digit short codes | |
| 10000–39999 | Common short codes |
| 40000–49999 | Private short codes |
| 50000–99999 | Common short codes |
| 6-digit short codes | |
| 100000–399999 | Common short codes |
| 400000–499999 | Private short codes |
| 500000–999999 | Common short codes |
8-digit short codes are also available and issued sequentially on a case-by-case basis. 3-digit short codes are typically categorized as private codes and are leased out by individual wireless service providers.
To see which specific short codes are available for your company or organization, consult the Canadian short code directory.
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