Compliance·8 min read

TRAI DLT Registration Guide India 2024: How to Register for Bulk SMS

All commercial SMS sent in India must use a TRAI DLT-registered sender ID and template since March 2021. Here is the complete step-by-step process to register your entity, sender ID, and SMS templates.

Arjun Mehta

Head of Product — ConnexBetter

What is TRAI DLT?

DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology — a blockchain-based system introduced by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) to combat SMS spam and phishing. Since March 2021, every business that sends commercial SMS in India must register on the DLT platform.

The DLT system works by requiring businesses to pre-register three things before sending any SMS:

Their entity (company/brand) — who is sending the SMS
A sender ID (header) — the 6-character name shown as the SMS sender
SMS templates — the exact format of every message they send

Any SMS sent without matching a registered template is blocked by Indian telecom operators before it reaches the recipient.

DLT Registration: Step-by-Step

Choose a DLT portal

Register on any one of the TRAI-approved DLT portals operated by Indian telecom operators. The major portals are: • Jio: trueconnect.jio.com • Airtel: dlt.airtel.in • Vi (Vodafone Idea): vilpower.in • BSNL/MTNL: smartping.com You only need to register on one portal — sender IDs and templates registered there are valid across all Indian operators.

Register your entity (PE registration)

Your 'Principal Entity' (PE) is your business. On the portal: 1. Click Register/Sign Up 2. Enter your legal entity name exactly as on your PAN/GST 3. Upload PAN, GST certificate, and incorporation documents 4. Enter the authorized signatory's Aadhaar and mobile number (OTP verification) 5. Submit — approval takes 1–3 working days You receive a PE ID after approval.

Register your Sender ID (Header)

Your sender ID is the 6-character name that appears as the SMS sender (e.g., CNXBTR, HDFCBK). After PE approval: 1. Go to Headers → Add Header 2. Enter your preferred 6-letter sender ID 3. Select the SMS category: Transactional, Promotional, or Service 4. Pay ₹590 per sender ID Transactional headers must begin with a specific letter by category — your aggregator can advise on the correct format.

Register your SMS templates

Every unique SMS format you send must be pre-registered as a template: 1. Go to Templates → Add Template 2. Select your registered header (sender ID) 3. Enter the template text — use {#var#} for variable parts (e.g., OTP, order number, name) 4. Select template type: Transactional, Promotional, or Service 5. Submit — approval takes 24–72 hours Important: the actual SMS sent must match the template exactly. Variables can only be inserted where {#var#} placeholders are placed.

Link templates to your SMS provider

Share your approved Template IDs and Sender IDs with your SMS provider (e.g., ConnexBetter). In ConnexBetter: 1. Go to Settings → DLT Templates 2. Add your template with the DLT Template ID 3. When sending SMS via API, pass dlt_te_id: 'YOUR_TEMPLATE_ID' in the request body All messages sent without a valid DLT template ID will be blocked by operators.

Common DLT Registration Mistakes

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Entity name mismatch

The legal entity name on DLT must match exactly with your PAN and GST records. Even a minor spelling difference (Pvt vs Private) causes rejection.

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Wrong template category

Registering a transactional message (e.g., OTP) as promotional or vice versa causes delivery failure. OTPs must use transactional routes; marketing messages must use promotional routes.

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Static text where variable needed

If your SMS will contain a changing order number, OTP, or name, that part must be a {#var#} placeholder in the template — not hardcoded text.

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Not passing dlt_te_id in API calls

Template registration alone is not enough. The DLT Template ID must be passed in every API call when sending SMS. ConnexBetter's API accepts this as the dlt_te_id parameter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DLT registration mandatory for bulk SMS in India?

Yes. TRAI made DLT registration mandatory for all commercial SMS sent in India from March 2021. Any SMS sent without a DLT-registered sender ID and template will be blocked by Indian telecom operators. This applies to transactional, promotional, and service SMS. Penalties include message blocking and potential regulatory action.

How long does DLT registration take?

Entity registration is approved within 1–3 working days. Sender ID registration takes 1–2 working days. Template registration is typically approved within 24–72 hours, though complex templates may take up to 7 days. The full process — entity + sender ID + templates — typically takes 5–7 working days end-to-end.

How much does DLT registration cost?

Entity registration costs ₹5,900 (including GST) on most telecom operator portals and is valid for one year. Sender ID registration is ₹590 per sender ID per year. Template registration is free — there is no per-template charge. Some aggregators like ConnexBetter handle DLT registration on your behalf as part of onboarding.

What is the difference between transactional and promotional SMS in DLT?

Transactional SMS is sent to customers who have opted in or transacted with you — OTP, bank alerts, order confirmations. These bypass DND and can be sent 24/7. Promotional SMS is sent for marketing to non-DND numbers only, between 9 AM and 9 PM. Each type requires separate DLT-registered templates and sender IDs with different 6-character header formats.

Can ConnexBetter help with DLT registration?

Yes. ConnexBetter assists all new customers with DLT entity registration, sender ID application, and template registration as part of the onboarding process. Our team guides you through document submission and follows up with the telecom portal. For most customers, DLT setup is complete within 5–7 working days of starting onboarding.

What documents are needed for DLT entity registration?

You need: PAN card of the business, GST registration certificate, Certificate of Incorporation (for companies) or shop establishment certificate (for proprietorships), address proof, and authorised signatory details. Individual/sole proprietors can use Aadhaar and PAN. All documents must match the legal entity name.

Need help with DLT registration?

ConnexBetter handles DLT entity registration, sender ID, and template approval as part of onboarding — typically complete within 5–7 working days.

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