What is DLT Registration? - A Step by Step Guide to Process

DLT registration for bulk SMS service involves following sequential steps.

1. Getting Principal Entity Registered
2. Getting SMS Header Registered or getting Sender ID
3. Getting approval on the Consent Template
4. Getting approval on the Content Template

You can do the above registrations on any Access Provider/ telecom operator like Jio, BSNL, Airtel, VodafoneIdea, and so on.

Follow these steps to register as an Entity on the DLT platform:

1. Go to any telecom service provider's DLT portal and select the Register option.
2. Choose either a Principal Entity or a Telemarketer, depending on your needs.
3. Complete the form with all relevant information about your company, including the authorized contact person, upload your company's KYC documents, and press submit.
4. Complete OTP verification to successfully submit the Entity Registration request

It generally takes 2-3 days for approval. However, on successful submission, you would receive a confirmation mail instantly from the telecom operator stating that the Entity registration request has been received.

Once your entity gets approved, the telecom operator will update you by mail and will also share your login details for the DLT panel and Entity Number. In general, the telecom operator charges you around INR 5000/- + GST for a year for the DLT panel.

You do not need to register your business again once it has already been registered on the DLT portal of any telecom operator.

Getting SMS Header Registered

Before proceeding on how to get the SMS Header registered, let’s first understand the headers and their type.

A Header is a unique ID assigned to an individual, business, or legal entity to send commercial communication. It is to represent the brand or company name of the message sender. It consists of an alphanumeric string of a maximum of 11 characters or numbers. Earlier it was known as Sender ID.

As per TRAI guidelines, the messages sent by any business or legal entity can be categorized into 4 types:

• Promotional SMS: Messages meant for marketing purposes. The intent here is to promote a product or service. Promotional messages can only be sent out to non-DND numbers.
• Transactional SMS: OTP SMS sent by banks are categorized as transactional SMS. All banks can send OTP to their clients from the Transactional route.
• Service Implicit: Messages other than bank OTPs such as order status, delivery status, account status, payment status, reminders, booking details, OTP SMSs from non-bank sites, and so on come under this category.
• Service Explicit: These are similar marketing SMSs, but can only be sent out to registered users and customers who have given consent.

Headers for promotional SMS consist of 6 numeric digits with the first digit representing the industry you are associated with. The header for other message types consists of 6 alphabetical case-sensitive characters.

Follow these steps for getting approval on SMS Header Registration.

1. Log in to your DLT panel using the provided username and entity ID obtained after a successful Principal Entity Registration./li>
2. Once logged in, navigate to the SMS Header Registration option in the Dashboard Menu. Please note that the dashboard menu becomes accessible only after completing the payment for the DLT panel.
3. Choose the appropriate header type based on the nature of your SMS content. For promotional content, select "Promotional," and make a similar selection for other types./li>
4. Select the Header category that corresponds to your industry. For example, if your business operates in the education sector, choose the "Education" category. Likewise, for healthcare, opt for the "Healthcare" category.
5. Create a unique header name according to the criteria applicable to your message type, and then specify the Header validity period, indicating how long you intend this new header to remain valid.
6. If the requested header is already in use, you will need to try an alternative until you find a unique and available header for your use.



After successfully submitting the header, please allow approximately 3-7 days for the telecom operator to review and approve it.




Once approved, you can view the header under the "Registered Header" section. Once a telecom service provider approves the header, there's no need to register it again. You can use the approved header with any other telecom provider as well.




Getting approval on the Consent Template




To secure approval for your Consent Template, follow these steps



1. Log in to your DLT panel.
2. Select "Consent Registration" from the dashboard menu./li>
   
3. Provide the required details:
   
   
   • Template Name: Choose a specific and relevant name (avoid generic names like Template 1)
   • Brand Name: Reflect your business or brand associated with the SMS content.
   • Template Content: Briefly describe the message purpose (no actual message content, and no variables)
   • Submit the details. Approval typically takes 3-7 days for telecom service providers.



Upon approval, receive a Consent ID. Map this ID with the Content Template for the Promotional and Service Explicit Category in the DLT Platform.




Getting approval on the Content Template




Obtain approval for your Content Template by adhering to these steps:



1. Log in to your DLT panel
2. Select "Content Template Registration" from the dashboard.
3. Complete the form, including details like Type of Communication, Template Type, Template Category, Content Template Name, Header, and the Template Content..
4. For the Content Template, input your text message along with up to 2 variables in [#var#] format (case-sensitive).
5. Submit the form for approval by the telecom service provider.



Approval typically takes 3-7 days for telecom service providers.







Benefits of DLT Registration for Customers



1. Reduced Spam:

   Customers only receive messages from verified and authorized sources, minimizing the risk of spam and unwanted communication.

2. Enhanced Trust:

   Customers can trust the authenticity of received messages, fostering a positive and secure communication experience.

3. Opt-In Control:

   Empowers customers with more control over the messages they receive, allowing them to opt in or out of communication from specific businesses.




Benefits of DLT Registration for Businesses



1. Compliance with TRAI Rules:

   ensures businesses adhere to TRAI regulations, preventing penalties and legal complications.

2. Increased Deliverability:

   Messages sent through DLT-registered channels are more likely to be delivered, recognized as legitimate and trustworthy by telecom service providers.

3. Brand Credibility:

   Enhances a business's SMS marketing efforts, adding credibility to the brand and fostering customer loyalty.




Now that you have understood the DLT registration process and are ready to send out SMSs to your customers, let’s consider the next steps.



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Conclusion




In conclusion, DLT registration has become an integral part of the SMS marketing landscape, mandated by TRAI to create a secure and reliable communication channel.




Businesses must comply with regulations, enhance customer trust, and optimize the impact of their SMS marketing campaigns.




While the initial charges may seem like an investment, the long-term benefits of brand credibility, customer loyalty, and compliance far outweigh the costs.




it is not just a regulatory requirement but a strategic move towards building a more transparent and trustworthy SMS marketing ecosystem.