What is DLT Registration?

DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology, which is a blockchain-based registration structure. It keeps a track of every transaction between the company and the customers or other entities of an SMS service network. According to the updated guidelines provided by the TRAI, every SMS bulk service in India must be DLT registered. This rule was devised as an initiative to minimise SMS spam. Resultantly, creating a safer and an explicit environment for the end-customer.

Why Has DLT Registration Been Mandated by TRAI?

DLT registration by TRAI provides benefits to all the parties involved in it, including those who are a part of SMS services, like the end customer or the enterprise itself.
The first and most important advantage that DLT registration offers is eradicating fraud, as telemarketing frauds have been a major problem for a long time in India. The customer’s seal of approval is taken prior to sending the SMS. Hence, utilising a blockchain registration improves the network and makes it more reliable and trustworthy for the customer.
Also, DLT registration means enterprises can reach a greater audience who is genuinely interested in using their services and getting information. This results in a good customer-enterprise relationship and consequently, enhancing marketing strategies.

Who are the Parties Involved?

There are mainly five parties involved in DLT registration: Principal Entity, End Customer, Service Provider, Telecom Operators and Regulator. Every party has a separate role in the network.

What is a Blockchain?

Blockchain is a system of recording information in a way that makes it difficult or impossible to change, hack, or cheat the system. A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is duplicated and distributed across the entire network of computer systems on the blockchain.

What is a Principal entity?

An Enterprise is an Individual or Company who wants to communicate with its customers using Bulk SMS Service. It is an Individual/Entity who want to send SMS to its customers and clients regarding the products and services. Enterprise is also known by the name of Principal Entity.

Who is a Telemarketer?

Telemarketer is the Bulk SMS Service Provider Company from which a business purchases Bulk SMS Service to send SMS to its clients and customers. In other words, telemarketer sends SMS on behalf of the Enterprise (Principal Entity).

What are Bulk SMS Routes?

In the latest TRAI regulations, new Bulk SMS routes have been introduced:

1. Transactional: Transactional route can only be used by Banks for sending OTP to their clients. Other Bank related messages such as amount debited/ credited, account status, etc. cannot be sent via Transactional route. This route can be used by all Banks including National/ Scheduled/ Private/ Government/ MNC. Transactional route can be used only by Banks for just sending OTP SMS.
2. Service Implicit: Service Implicit route can be used by business and companies for sending important SMS related to products and service updates. Examples are website/app OTP, payment alerts, purchase details, order delivery, and all other informative messages.
3. Service Explicit: Service Explicit route can be used for sending marketing related SMS to the customers after receiving their permission. If a customer gives permission to receive promotional SMS, then the messages will come under the Service Explicit category.
4. Promotional:Promotional SMS includes the marketing related SMS which can be delivered only to the NonDND numbers. SMS sent to promote products and services will come under this category.

What is Service Inferred?

Any message arising out of a customer's action or their existing relationship with the enterprise, that is not promotional, will be considered as Service-Inferred message.

What is Service Implicit?

Service implicit messages are the ones that are generated because you have initiated a transaction with a company and do not have any promotional content or implications.

What is Service Explicit?

Service Explicit: Any service message which doesn't fall under the category of service message (Implicit) will be sent only against service explicit, digitally verified/verifiable consent that has been taken from the subscriber by the respective enterprise.

What is Content Template?

Content Template is the message text which you have to submit on the DLT portal. It is the actual text of your SMS that has to be approved by DLT before sending it to your customers. Content Template has to be submitted for every single message you want to send to your customers in India.
Note:Content Template is mandatory for all type of SMS routes – Transactional, Service Implicit, Service Explicit and Promotional.

What is Consent Template?

Consent Template is used for taking customer’s permission before sending them promotional SMS. In simple words, if a business wants to send promotional SMS to its customers, it has to first submit Consent Template on the DLT platform which can be mapped to promotional messages at the time of approving Content Templates. If you are sending SMS only from the Service Implicit route, then you just need to submit Content Template on the DLT portal. But, if you are sending marketing related SMS, then at first you have to submit Consent Template (Promotional SMS permission) and after it is approved, you have to submit Content Template (actual SMS text).
Note:Consent Template is not required for Service Implicit route.
It is mandatory for Service Explicit & Promotional route only

How to add Header or Sender id in JIO DLT?

Header is a unique combination of six characters representing the brand or company name of the message sender. Header was earlier known as Sender ID. In the revised TRAI DLT regulations for Bulk SMS, Sender ID is denoted by the term Header.

What is the first step of DLT Registration at JIO portal?

Please find DLT URL's mentioned below:

• Jio DLT Portal: https://trueconnect.jio.com
• Support Email Id: Jio.ISOMCCSupport@ril.com

JoinIndia Technological Solutions Ltd. having TM ID: 1202159246020248247
After successful registration as an Entity with Jio's DLT Platform, kindly select JoinIndia Technological Solutions Ltd., Registration Id: 1202159246020248247 as your SMS telemarketer.

What is DLT Registration Fee?

DLT Registration Fee vary with different operator's DLT Portal.

How to avoid disruption when Template Scrubbing goes LIVE?

Message content and template ID must exactly match the templates approved in DLT platform

• The message content you have added should not have extra/missing spaces or new lines.
• All templates added in OnlineSMS panel must be added with template name and template ID.
• All DLT approved templates without/wrong/invalid template ID/message content in your account will be rejected post implementation. Sending any of the rejected templates will result in the error. You can access all your templates in your account. Please add DLT template IDs, message content template category or name for templates you wish to use.

How to use DLT Variables in a template?

DLT Variables

• The maximum character limit for a DLT variable is 30 (as mandated by operators) including space. If you wish to send more characters in variables please request 2 DLT variables ({#var#}{#var#} on DLT platform.
• Please use the same syntax when adding templates in each platform or can copy paste.

Note: The DLT portals are maintained and supported by respective telecom operators. OnlineSMS staff do not have access to your DLT account and information like template content, template ID, Entity ID etc.