Let’s understand in detail about DLT Registration and SMS Marketing.
SMS Stands for Short Message Services, it’s a way to send text messages between mobile phones. When a business sends a text message to someone, you are using SMS. It can be Promotional SMS, Transactional SMS, or Alert SMS.
| Promotional SMS | Transactional SMS | Alert SMS |
| Promote product | OTPs | Emergency alerts |
| Services | Order Confirmation | Services Disruptions |
| Sales | Delivery Updates | – |
| Spl. Offers | Appointment reminders | – |
| Tiny URL | – | – |
About SMS Marketing
SMS Marketing is when any business sends promotional text messages to customers’ phones. These messages can include special offers, updates, or important information to encourage customers to buy something or engage with the business.
Use case
- For a bank, SMS marketing is used for sending financial services updates, and alerts i.e., OTPs, Balance notifications, and complaint numbers to its customers
- For an e-commerce send SMS for order confirmation, order tracking number, and promotional SMS with a website tiny URL.
Features of SMS Marketing
1- SMS Marketing allows businesses to directly communicate with their customer’s mobile devices, ensuring the messages reach them promptly.
2- SMS messages are delivered within a click, making them ideal for time-sensitive updates i.e. mobile banking OTPs, Govt Website login etc.
3- SMS marketing is generally more affordable than other forms of marketing like print and digital media.
4- SMS messages can be personalised with the receipt names or other relevant information to increase engagement and effectiveness.
5- SMS marketing can be integrated with other marketing channels, such as email or social media to create a cohesive marketing campaign and reach customers across multiple touch points. i.e. e-commerce can send SMS to customers with website tiny urls and divert them to land on any product page.
About TRAI
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is the regulatory body overseeing the telecom industry in India. It’s responsible for ensuring fair competition and follows the rules set by the government.
Role of TRAI in SMS Marketing
TRAI Plays a very important role in regulating SMS Marketing in India. It sets rules to stop SPAM messages and protect people’s privacy. They also keep an eye on how many messages companies can send to people each day and allow people to opt out of receiving marketing messages.
About DLT
DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology, DLT is a technology used by the Indian government to control and monitor who is sending and receiving SMS messages.
It helps to keep track of businesses that send out mass text messages and make sure they are not sending SPAM, Fake or Fishing messages to customers. If any businesses want to send the mass SMS’s, they must register on the DLF platform first.
Why is DLT registration required?
DLT registration is mandatory by TRAI for all the businesses that want to send the mass SMS. Before starting bulk SMS, businesses require the approval of Entity ID, Sender ID/Header, SMS Template approval from the DLT platform.
This helps prevent spam, fake messages and increase the subscriber satisfaction and protect the consumer rights, frauds.
Process of a DLT for a Business
Step -1: A business has to register with any authorised DLT provider/tunnels for the ENTITY ID, on the respective website i.e. https://www.vilpower.in/ https://www.ucc-bsnl.co.in/
Step-2: Once a business receives the Entity ID, then they apply for the Sender ID/Header. This id is based on the combination of Alpha-Numeric. When a user receives a text message from the business this Sender ID will be shown as a sender name i.e.; VM-ICICIT, VD-VICARE. Usually, this Sender ID is 9 Characters which show the business name.
Step-3: Once SenderID/Header has been approved, the next step for business to get the approval on SMS Template to avoid any SPAM, Misleading or fake information.
This template uses by the Business for the bulk text messages, a business can apply approval for multiple SMS template and they will receive a Unique Template ID for every template i.e Electricity can use multiple SMS templates like Bill generation notification with payment link on SMS, Bill Payment reminder on SMS, Bill Payment acknowledgement SMS, Service Barred SMS.
Once a business received all necessary approval from DLT platform, able to send the bulk messages through Telemarketer.
Notes: Tunnels charges DLT registration fees Rs. 5000+GST yearly for HeaderID, Template approvals. This charge is paid by the business directly to tunnels i.e., BSNL, Vodafone, Videocon, Airtel, JIO. Telemarketer will charge separately for bulk SMS based on the volume i.e., Fast2SMS, Sinch, SMSGatewayHub.
Some basic Keywords
- Regulator: TRAI
- Access Provider: Jio, Vodafone, BSNL, etc.
- Principal Entity: Business/Company
- Mobile Subscriber: Users/Customer
- Telemarketer: Fast2SMS, Sinch, SMSGatewayHub, etc.
Let’s understand the Operator Codes
| Service Provider | Code |
| Aircel, Dishnet Wireless | D |
| Airtel | A |
| BSNL | B |
| BPL Mobile/Loop Telecom | L |
| Datacom Solutions | C |
| HFCL Infotel | H |
| Idea Cellular | I |
| MTNL | M |
| Reliance Communications | R |
| Reliance Telecom | E |
| S tel | S |
| Shyam Telecom | Y |
| Spice Telecom | P |
| Swan Telecom | W |
| Tata Teleservices | T |
| Unitech | U |
| Vodafone | V |
State-wise Codes that represent the SMS Gateway Origin:
| Service Circle | Code |
| Andhra Pradesh | A |
| Assam | S |
| Bihar | B |
| Delhi | D |
| Gujarat | G |
| Haryana | H |
| Himachal Pradesh | I |
| Jammu & Kashmir | J |
| Karnataka | X |
| Kerala | L |
| Kolkata | K |
| Madhya Pradesh | Y |
| Maharashtra | Z |
| Mumbai | M |
| North East | N |
| Orissa | O |
| Punjab | P |
| Rajasthan | R |
| Tamil Nadu | T |
| UP-East | E |
| UP-West | W |
| West Bengal | V |
SMS is a must have channel for all the brands especially for all the Transactional use cases say OTP, Payment and Order confirmations, and Acknowledgements.
It is a powerful and most easy to use channel to communicate with the users. If you are a new startup and need assistance in DLT, Template whitelisting, Headers and more. Let’s connect and discuss in detail.
To know more about SMS marketing, Reach out to us at www.enrcloud.com or write us at hello@enrcloud.com
Happy to assist you!
Also Read- A Complete Guide About Email Marketing Infrastructure
Amit Bhateja is the co-founder of enrcloud and helping brands and Unicorns from the last 15+ years and overachieve their Engagement and Retention goals. He is passionate about solving customer problems with modern technology, new age solutions, and consultancy approach. Besides Building ENR, He enjoys reading books, spending time with his family and Teammates, traveling, meeting new people, learning new things, and love to close the business deals.
