In India, businesses that send commercial SMS must register on a DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platform under TRAI’s regulations. Messages that are not registered properly are blocked by telecom operators.
This is a simplified overview. Check current TRAI rules and your SMS provider’s guidance, as requirements are updated.
What you register
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| Entity (Principal Entity) | Your business |
| Header (Sender ID) | The name shown as sender, such as AMJAMS |
| Content templates | Pre-approved message formats with variables |
| Consent templates | How customers agreed to receive messages, for promotional SMS |
Types of messages
- Transactional: OTPs and essential alerts.
- Service: order updates, appointment reminders and similar messages to customers.
- Promotional: offers and marketing. These respect customers’ DND preferences and are allowed only during permitted hours.
Steps to start
- Register your business on a DLT portal run by a telecom operator.
- Register your header and templates.
- Link your registration to your SMS provider.
- Send only messages that match approved templates.
Keep messages short
One SMS is 160 English characters (fewer with Hindi or emojis). Check length with our character counter.
Clean your list
Remove duplicates and invalid numbers with our phone number cleaner.
Read WhatsApp vs SMS vs email.
Want the full picture? This article is part of Email marketing: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
