Carrier Policies & 2025 Updates

Track real-time policy changes from T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. Understand rate limits, filtering algorithms, and regulatory shifts affecting your campaigns.

Throughput Optimization

High-trust scores (>75) enable 60-225 msg/min. Low scores (<50) limit you to just 6 msg/min. Maximize capacity by aligning with new policies.

Compliance Accuracy

Avoid immediate blocks. T-Mobile's new SHAFT enforcement and AT&T's crypto restrictions require precise content filtering before sending.

Approval Speed

Policy alignment accelerates TCR registration. Carriers approve compliant campaigns in 1–3 days vs. 7–10 days for borderline submissions.

Carrier Evolution Timeline: 2024–2025

Major regulatory milestones affecting the messaging ecosystem

November 2024

T-Mobile SHAFT Enforcement

Real-time ML-based blocking for prohibited content categories. Immediate message suspension for flagged senders.

October 2024

AT&T Crypto Restrictions

New limitations on cryptocurrency, NFT, and high-risk financial product promotions. Manual review required.

September 2024

Verizon Volume Monitoring

Automated system detecting traffic spikes >300% within 24 hours. Triggers automatic account review.

August 2024

Cross-Carrier Opt-Out Standards

Unified keyword processing. Mandatory support for STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT with <5s response.

Carrier-Specific Rate Limits & Policies

Carrier High-Trust Rate (>75) Medium-Trust Rate (50-75) Low-Trust Rate (<50) Key Policy
T-Mobile 60-225 msg/min 30-60 msg/min 6 msg/min SHAFT Enforcement
AT&T 60-225 msg/min 30-60 msg/min 6 msg/min Crypto Restrictions
Verizon 60-225 msg/min 30-60 msg/min 6 msg/min Volume Monitoring

Recent Policy Updates

T-Mobile Nov 5, 2024

SHAFT ML Detection Active

Real-time blocking system activated for prohibited content. Messages flagged by ML algorithms are blocked immediately without review.

AT&T Oct 28, 2024

Crypto Messaging Blocked

All cryptocurrency, NFT, and digital asset promotions require manual review. Approval timeline extended to 7–14 business days.

Verizon Oct 15, 2024

Automated Volume Monitoring

Accounts with >300% volume increase in 24 hours trigger automatic suspension. No warning period. Manual review required.

All Carriers Sep 20, 2024

Opt-Out Standardization

All carriers now require support for STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT. Response time mandate: <5 seconds.

T-Mobile Sep 1, 2024

DUNS Verification Mandate

New brand registrations require DUNS number. Existing brands without DUNS receive trust score penalties and reduced throughput.

AT&T Aug 15, 2024

Behavioral Analysis

Machine learning system analyzes messaging patterns. Accounts with suspicious behavior patterns face preemptive throttling.

Get Your 2025 Carrier Policy Tracker

Quarterly-updated PDF calendar covering all carrier policy changes, throughput limits, and compliance requirements. Stay ahead of enforcement actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I improve my carrier trust score?
Trust scores improve through: (1) DUNS number verification (+10-15 points), (2) Business domain age (6+ months), (3) Online review presence (4+ star average), (4) Low-risk use case history (2FA, notifications before marketing). Improvement timeline: 2-4 weeks for visible gains; 2-3 months for substantial recovery.
What triggers automatic carrier suspension?
Automatic suspensions occur for: (1) Volume spikes >300% in 24 hours (Verizon), (2) TCPA violations (all carriers), (3) SHAFT content violations (T-Mobile), (4) High opt-out rates (>5%), (5) Spam complaint rates (>0.1%). Recovery requires carrier escalation and documented compliance remediation.
Which content categories face the strictest restrictions?
SHAFT categories (most restricted): Sex-related content, Hate speech, Alcohol promotion, Firearms, Tobacco. Extended restrictions: Cannabis/CBD, Cryptocurrency/NFTs, Payday loans, Debt relief, Get-rich-quick schemes. Crypto and high-risk financial services face 7-14 day approval timelines vs. 1-3 days for standard campaigns.
How quickly must I process opt-out requests?
Carriers mandate <5 second opt-out response times for all standard keywords (STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE, QUIT). System responses must be automated. Delays trigger throttling and trust score penalties. Failure to honor opt-outs within 1 minute creates TCPA liability ($500-$1,500 per violation).
Compliance Tools

Policy Impact Calculator

Estimate your messaging throughput and approval timeline based on 2025 carrier policies and your current trust score.

Campaign Parameters

msgs
High Trust
75

Ready to Calculate

Adjust the parameters on the left and click "Calculate Impact" to see your estimated throughput and compliance requirements.

Projected Performance

Throughput Cap
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msg/minute
Daily Capacity
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msg/day
Est. Duration
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minutes to complete
Vetting Time
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business days

Carrier Specifics