Complete step-by-step guide to register your Principal Entity, Sender ID, and SMS Templates on Jio, Videocon, VIL & BSNL — and start sending compliant bulk SMS today.
Messages without DLT-approved templates are blocked by all operators. Register your templates now →
DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology — a blockchain-based compliance system introduced by TRAI under the TCCCPR 2018 regulations. Every business sending commercial SMS in India must register on a DLT platform operated by a licensed telecom operator. The system records every sender, every header, and every message template on an immutable blockchain. When you send a message through SMSGatewayHub, these records are verified in real time at the operator end — a process called DLT scrubbing. Messages that match are delivered. Messages that don't match are blocked before reaching any recipient. TRAI significantly strengthened this framework with the February 2025 TCCCPR amendments, introducing stricter PE-TM traceability, mandatory URL whitelisting, and biometric verification for new registrants.
Principal Entity ID
Sender ID (Header)
Content Template
No minimum volume. No industry exemption. If you send bulk SMS to Indian mobile numbers — OTPs, alerts, or promotions — DLT registration applies to you.
Order confirmations, delivery tracking, sale alerts, and loyalty program updates
Transaction alerts, OTPs, loan updates, and investment notifications (RBI regulated)
Appointment reminders, test report alerts, prescription refill, and health tips
Admission updates, fee reminders, exam schedules, and result notifications
Login OTPs, account verification, trial expiry reminders, and feature updates
Property alerts, site visit follow-ups, payment reminders, and project updates
Premium reminders, claim status updates, policy renewals, and coverage alerts
Citizen communication, service updates, and official notifications
Choose the correct SMS route based on your business type and consent model.
Transactional SMS is reserved exclusively for banks and RBI-regulated financial institutions. These messages can be sent 24×7 to both DND and non-DND numbers.
If you send OTPs for app login, order alerts, or account updates — this is NOT your category. Use Service Implicit instead.
Service Implicit SMS is used by businesses with an existing customer relationship. Consent is implicit through service usage.
Service Explicit SMS which fall under the category of Promotional traffic.
Promotional SMS is used for marketing campaigns, offers, and festive promotions. Can only be sent during permitted hours to non-DND numbers.
Jio vs Videocon vs VIL vs BSNL — Which DLT Platform to Choose?
smartping.live
₹5,900/yr
trueconnect.jio.com
~₹5,900/yr
vilpower.in
ucc-bsnl.co.in
~₹3,300/yr
airtel.in/business/commercial-co
telemarketer.tatateleservices.com
Your entity name on PAN must exactly match what you enter during registration — including spacing and abbreviations.
Serves as both address proof and business identity. Businesses below GST threshold can use alternative proofs.
On company letterhead, authorising the person completing registration to act on the company's behalf. Must be signed by an authorised signatory.
TRAI regulations continue to evolve. If your DLT setup predates these changes, a review is recommended.
All URLs included in SMS content — including shortened links — must be pre-registered and whitelisted on the DLT platform.
Stricter validation requiring variables to indicate their purpose (OTP, name, order ID, amount, date).
Mandatory PE-TM traceability, biometric authentication, physical verification, and tighter complaint thresholds.
Promotional voice calls must use 140 series. Transactional/service use 1600 series.
Mandatory Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) introduced for promotional messages.
Complaint threshold reduced from 10 in 7 days to 5 in 10 days.
Complete all mandatory steps before sending compliant SMS campaigns.
A Header (Sender ID) is the 6-character name displayed as the sender of your SMS. It creates instant brand recognition before the message is even opened. Example: FSTDLV (Logistics Company) or HDFINB (NBFC)
A Telemarketer in DLT terminology is the SMS gateway that sends messages on your behalf. Linking SMSGatewayHub Technologies Pvt. Ltd. establishes the PE-TM traceability chain mandated by TRAI's 2025 TCCCPR amendments.
VILPower and BSNL require a physical service agreement — an additional step not required on Jio or Videocon. Contact our sales team at support@smsgatewayhub.com with your Unique ID to receive the agreement document.
Register Your SMS Content Templates
Every unique message format needs a separately approved template — registration is free.
Template registration is where many businesses trip up. Every message format you send — whether an OTP, a delivery update, or a promotional offer — needs its own pre-approved template. Without it, the message is blocked even if your Entity ID and Header are approved.
Select operators have introduced stricter variable tagging validation. Variables in message templates should indicate their specific purpose (OTP, name, order ID, amount, URL). Check your platform’s current validation rules before submitting new templates.
Mandatory Variable Tagging Variable fields in all new SMS templates created post 14th Jan 26 must be pre-tagged with a defined data type and purpose. Only the data permitted by the tag can be populated at runtime. Examples of approved variable tags: {#numeric#} – OTPs, amounts, numbers {#alphanumeric#} – Reference IDs, ticket numbers {#url#} – Website links {#urlott#} – OTT / App download links {#cbn#} – Callback numbers {#email#} – Email addresses
DLT approval and gateway setup are two separate steps. After your templates are approved on the DLT platform, you must mirror them in your SMSGatewayHub account. This allows the platform to automatically attach the correct DLT Template ID to every message — without requiring any changes to your existing API integration.
Portal Steps (1–4)
Configuration (5–8)
No changes to your existing API calls are required. SMSGatewayHub automatically matches your outgoing message content against your approved templates and passes the correct Template ID to the operator on every request.
These are the most avoidable reasons we see DLT applications get rejected or delayed.
Example: PAN says "STPL Technologies Pvt Ltd" — registration says "STPL Technologies Private Limited"
Solution: Entity name must be identical across all documents, including spacing and abbreviations.
Example: Blurry, cropped, or low-resolution document scans uploaded during KYC.
Solution: Use clear, complete scans at minimum 200 DPI — all corners and text must be fully visible.
Example: Sender ID "FASTDL" for "Speedy Logistics Pvt Ltd" — no explanation attached.
Solution: Attach domain proof, trademark certificate, or written justification if header differs.
Example: Template submitted without company or brand name.
Solution: Brand name or trademark must appear in the message body — mandatory since October 2020.
Example: OTP template submitted under "Transactional" category.
Solution: Transactional is for banks only. App-based OTPs must use "Service Implicit".
Example: Entity ID approved but messages still blocked — TM not added.
Solution: Telemarketer binding is mandatory. Messages will be blocked without it.
Why Compliance Matters
The difference between compliant and non-compliant SMS sending in India.