What is the Short Codes Management Group

UK Mobile Network Operators provide a range of services behind short codes for their own branded services and those of third party Service Providers. Over the past year, the UK Mobile Network Operators (MNO's) have recognised an increasing demand for the provision of short-codes and notably for the provision of short-codes on a common basis across more than one UK mobile network.

Historically, there was an informal agreement between the mobile network operators that they would issue short codes with an initial number which was specific to the operator. Service Providers thus obtained short codes for services with each network issuing a code which fell into "their" range, so one service could have a number of different short codes depending on the network to which the end-users were connected.

The requirement for one short code which was the same across a number of networks for one service then developed rapidly and was accommodated by the operators on a semi-formal basis.

In response to the increasing demand for cross-network shortcodes, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3 have formed the Shortcode Management Group (SCMG), which manages the availability of shortcodes and agrees on guidelines related to services operating on available shortcodes.These guidelines have been published as the “Code of Practice for Service delivery of Common short-codes in the UK” and are available for download from this site in the Useful information section.

This code of practice does not govern any aspect of commercial service delivery. The provision of shortcode access on any individual mobile network will continue to be subject to the conclusion of a satisfactory bilateral agreement between the Service Provide and the individual MNO in question. It may also be affected by any transitional technical constraints of individual MNO's (as detailed within the Code of Practice).

Where a short code is issued under this scheme, the participating operators agree that the short-code will be used only by the Service Provider to which it has been provided under the rules of the scheme. The only exception shall be codes already in use at the time of the formal commencement of the scheme. Such short-codes will be subject to the transition provisions as outlined in the Code of Practice.