PROCLAIMED · Canadian Regulatory Framework

CRTC in practice: CLI validation, alphanumeric Sender ID and CASL consent for A2P SMS traffic into Canada

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) administers Canada's blocks of the North American Numbering Plan and the rules for Sender ID under the Telecommunications Act. Canada's distinctive obligation is CASL — Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation — which requires express or implied consent for every commercial electronic message and is enforced jointly by the CRTC, the Competition Bureau and the OPC. 4notify routes over tier-1 direct connections to Rogers, Bell, Telus and Freedom Mobile and runs the CASL consent check automatically at the API edge.

Four Canadian mobile carriers

Rogers

Market share: ~33% · P50: 2.6 s

Largest carrier after the Shaw acquisition; strongest tier-1 connectivity; preferred activation for regulated sectors.

Bell

Market share: ~29% · P50: 2.9 s

National incumbent; wide rural coverage; strong alphanumeric Sender ID acceptance.

Telus

Market share: ~28% · P50: 3.0 s

Western and national coverage; reliable short-code provisioning.

Freedom Mobile

Market share: ~6% · P50: 3.4 s

Challenger carrier (Quebecor/Videotron); urban coverage; good consumer reach.

CRTC numbering plan

+1 NANP geographic numbersCanadian area codes within the North American Numbering Plan; CRTC CLI validation chain required.
Toll-free (+1 8XX)Non-geographic business lines; SMS-enabled toll-free for two-way support.
Common short codes (5-6 digits)Two-way SMS; brand registration through the Canadian carrier registry; dedicated or shared.
Alphanumeric Sender ID (≤11 chars)Registered with carriers; trademark or business attestation required.

Five-step CRTC + CASL compliance chain

  1. 01

    CRTC framework + carrier agreements

    4notify is provisioned with Rogers, Bell, Telus and Freedom Mobile and operates within the CRTC numbering and Sender ID framework.

  2. 02

    Alphanumeric Sender ID registration

    Brands register their Sender IDs with the carriers. Required: trademark or business attestation, sample message, use-case statement. Activation: 5-10 business days.

  3. 03

    CASL express-consent check (Canada-specific, mandatory)

    Every commercial message is checked for valid CASL consent before sending; numbers without a recorded consent are rejected at the API edge. The CRTC can levy penalties of up to $10 million.

  4. 04

    Do-not-originate (DNO) enforcement

    Numbers reserved by banks, government and emergency services can never appear as the originator. 4notify mirrors the DNO list at the API edge on a 5-minute interval.

  5. 05

    STOP / ARRET keyword handling

    STOP, ARRET and UNSUBSCRIBE keywords are honoured within 10 business days and propagated to the carrier suppression list.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Canadian legal entity to send SMS to Canada?

4notify manages the tier-1 connections from EU infrastructure, but Sender ID registration needs a trademark or business attestation and CASL consent records tied to the sending brand. CASL is a Canada-specific obligation regardless of where the brand is incorporated.

What is the penalty for a CASL violation?

Under CASL the CRTC can impose administrative monetary penalties of up to $10 million per violation for organisations; the Competition Bureau and the OPC may also pursue related enforcement.

How long does Sender ID activation take?

Typically 5-10 business days. Rogers is usually fastest; Bell, Telus and Freedom Mobile can take 1-2 days longer.

Start for free

Full CRTC + CASL compliance. Sender ID in 5-10 business days. Weekday support in English.