Everything your business needs to know about Distributed Ledger Technology registration — explained simply, step by step.
DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology. In the context of SMS marketing in India, it is a blockchain-based platform mandated by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to curb unsolicited and fraudulent commercial messages.
Introduced in 2018 and made mandatory in 2021, DLT ensures that every business entity, sender ID (header), and message template is registered and verified before any commercial SMS reaches a customer.
📌 Bottom line: If your business sends bulk SMS — promotions, OTPs, alerts, or any transactional message — you must be registered on a DLT platform. Without registration, your messages will be blocked by all telecom operators.
The DLT system is operated by telecom operators like Jio, Airtel, Vodafone-Idea (Vi), and BSNL. All operators are interoperable — register on any one, and your approval is valid across all networks.
Any entity sending commercial SMS (also called Principal Entity) to Indian mobile numbers must register on DLT — regardless of size.
Any company running promotional or transactional SMS campaigns for customers.
Order confirmations, shipping updates, OTPs, and promotional offers.
Appointment reminders, lab reports, health alerts, and prescription updates.
Banks, NBFCs, insurance companies sending OTPs, alerts, or loan updates.
Admission alerts, fee reminders, exam notifications, and result updates.
Agencies sending SMS on behalf of clients must register under their client's name.
Registration is done directly on any DLT portal (Jio, Airtel, Vi, etc.). Complete all three steps in order.
Register your business as a Principal Entity on any DLT portal. This is a one-time step where you verify your company identity.
A Header is the 6-character alphanumeric Sender ID that appears instead of a phone number when your customer receives an SMS (e.g. TMCLUB).
Every unique message format you want to send must be registered as a template. Variables like customer name or OTP are represented as {#var#}.
{#var#}Dear {#var#}, your OTP is {#var#}. Valid for 10 mins. -TMCLUBWhen registering a template, you must select the correct category. Using the wrong category is the most common reason for rejection.
For OTPs and critical alerts triggered by a customer action. Can be sent 24×7 to DND numbers.
For marketing messages and offers. Can only be sent 9AM–9PM. Blocked for DND numbers.
For service updates to existing customers who have an implied consent (e.g. order updates, bank alerts).
For service messages where the customer has given written/digital explicit consent.
You only need to register on one portal — all telecom operators are interoperable. Choose any one that is convenient.
Following these rules will keep your SMS campaigns running without interruption.
{#var#} for all dynamic fields like names, amounts, OTPsOur certified partners can handle your Entity, Header and Template registration — so you can focus on your campaigns.