What Is DLT Registration?

DLT is Distributed Ledger Technology. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) introduced DLT to stop spam messages and protect mobile users. Now that bulk SMS or promotional marketing is a practice applied by many businesses, they must register on a DLT platform. Once the business has registered for DLT, it will be able to use the bulk SMS option for offers, important updates, alerts, and more. If the businesses don’t register for DLT, their bulk messages will either get blocked or never reach customers.

Why Is DLT Registration Mandatory for Bulk SMS?

DLT was introduced due to precautionary reasons. People used to get way too many unwanted messages and fraud calls. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched the mandatory DLT registration for businesses so that they can send bulk SMS without worrying about getting flagged as spam. DLT helps telecom operators in verifying who is sending the message, what the message says, and the name of the sender. The motivation behind this was to establish a safe and trusted communication medium for both the businesses and customers.

Who Should Register on DLT?

DLT registration is mandatory for:

• Businesses sending promotional SMS
• Companies sending OTPs or transaction alerts
• Brands sending delivery updates or reminders
• Any organisation using bulk SMS services in India

Note: Small businesses or startups are not exempt. It is a mandatory process for all.

Step-by-Step Process of How DLT Registration Works

Step 1: Choose a DLT Platform

There are many DLT platforms in India managed by famous telecom operators like Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, and BSNL. You can choose any one of the platforms mentioned and register for DLT there.

Step 2: Register Your Business

The registration requires you to sign up as a business entity and not an individual. The following details will be required:

• Business name
• Address
• Email ID
• Mobile number
• Company documents (GST certificate, PAN, or business registration proof)

After the application submission, the platform will verify your details.

Step 3: Register Your Sender ID

For the next step, you need to register your Sender ID. It means the name that will appear on the receiver’s phone. The sender ID is 6 characters long and should relate to your business name. After submission, the telecom operator will review and approve it.

Step 4: Create and Register Message Templates

In this process, you need to submit a message template. The template should be exactly the message you plan on sending to your customers. It includes fixed text and variables (like customer name or order number).

Step 5: Link DLT With Your SMS Provider

After the registration for your business entity, sender ID, and templates is approved, you can link them with your bulk SMS service providers, such as Sequence Cloud Gateway . An SMS service provider helps businesses in connecting DLT details with their SMS campaigns. This ensures that the messages will be delivered without any issues.

How Long Does DLT Registration Take?

The full process usually takes:

• Entity approval: 1–3 working days
• Sender ID approval: 1–2 working days
• Template approval: 1–2 working days

You need to ensure that you submit the proper details and documents so that delays won’t happen.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many businesses face rejection because of small errors. Avoid the following mistakes:

• Using promotional words in service or transactional templates
• Mismatch between business name and sender ID
• Uploading unclear or incorrect documents
• Sending SMS that do not match approved templates

Is DLT a One-Time Process?

The DLT entity registration is usually a one-time process. However, you will require approval every time in the following cases:

• Add a new sender ID
• Create new SMS templates
• Change message content

Final Thoughts

The DLT registration is a mandatory process for businesses that plan to use bulk SMS marketing to communicate with their customers efficiently. It may look like a lengthy process, but it plays a significant role in ensuring your SMS campaign can be trusted by your customers and doesn’t get flagged as spam by the operators. We hope you understood the significance and process of DLT registrations with our article, as a business depending upon SMS campaigns to connect with its customers.