Australia Issues Amendment No. 1/2026 to AS/CA S042.1:2025 – National Messaging System Officially Renamed “AusAlert”

SYDNEY, Australia – The Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA) has formally published Amendment No. 1/2026 to the telecommunications equipment standard AS/CA S042.1:2025 (Requirements for connection to an air interface of a telecommunications network – Part 1: General). The amendment, approved on 25 June 2026 and published on 26 June 2026, is now incorporated into a consolidated version of the standard.

The primary change introduced by this amendment is the renaming of the National Messaging System (NMS) to “AusAlert” throughout the entire standard document. This aligns the technical specifications with the new branding adopted by the Australian Government for its emergency cell‑broadcast service, which is expected to become fully operational by mid‑2027.

Key Modifications

The amendment updates all references to the emergency alert system, including:

• Replacing “National Messaging System (NMS)” with “AusAlert (formerly known as the National Messaging System NMS)” in the Introduction.

• Renaming definitions and clause headings, such as:

• Clause 4.2.42 – from “National Messaging System (NMS)” to “AusAlert”.

• Clause 4.2.43 – from “National Messaging System (NMS) Alerts” to “AusAlert Alerts”, with sub‑types renamed “Critical AusAlert” and “Priority AusAlert”.

• Updating multiple technical clauses (e.g., 5.2.3.2, 5.2.3.5, 5.2.3.6) to reflect the new terminology, including notes and commentary.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) submitted a formal response on 15 April 2026, supporting the name change and the associated revisions.

Background

AS/CA S042.1:2025 is the ninth edition of the core technical standard governing customer equipment (CE) intended for connection to public mobile telecommunications services (PMTS) or satellite services in Australia. It is a mandatory standard referenced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for equipment market access.

The 2025 edition was first released on 30 June 2025 and introduced comprehensive requirements for emergency cell‑broadcast capabilities, aligning with international frameworks such as EU‑Alert. The current amendment does not alter any technical performance or testing requirements; it solely updates the naming convention to align with the government‑adopted “AusAlert” brand.

Effective Date

The amendment became effective on 26 June 2026. The consolidated version of AS/CA S042.1:2025, incorporating all changes, was republished on the same date.

Industry Impact

Suppliers, manufacturers, and testing laboratories are advised to update their documentation, internal references, and compliance checklists to reflect the new “AusAlert” terminology. No additional testing or re‑certification is required solely due to this naming amendment, as the underlying technical specifications remain unchanged.

However, the ATA encourages all stakeholders to ensure their devices correctly support the AusAlert notification formats (Critical and Priority) ahead of the national rollout in 2027. The mandatory compliance date for the 2025 edition (including this amendment) remains 30 June 2026 for new imports, as previously scheduled.

About AS/CA S042 Series
The AS/CA S042 series sets out the general technical requirements for customer equipment that connects to public mobile or satellite services. It is developed and maintained by the Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA), the peak industry body for telecommunications standards in Australia.

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