DLT Registration in India

Mandatory SMS Compliance Under TRAI TCCCPR 2018

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a blockchain-based regulatory framework mandated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018. It was introduced to bring full transparency to commercial SMS communication, eliminate spam, and establish verified accountability across all telecom networks in India.

DLT platforms are operated and maintained by authorised telecom operators including Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, BSNL, MTNL, Tata, and Videocon. These platforms validate and record every business entity, sender ID (header), and SMS content template before any message is permitted to reach an end customer.

Any business, organisation, or individual intending to send Promotional, Transactional, Service Implicit, or Service Explicit SMS to mobile users in India must complete DLT registration before sending. Messages sent without valid DLT registration will be blocked or rejected by telecom operators — resulting in complete disruption of your SMS communication.

⚠️ Regulatory Notice:

DLT registration is a legal requirement under TRAI TCCCPR 2018. Non-compliance may result in SMS traffic being blocked by all major Indian telecom operators. Register immediately to ensure uninterrupted communication with your customers.

How to Complete DLT Registration in India — 4 Steps

As per TRAI TCCCPR 2018 regulations, every business sending commercial SMS in India must complete all four steps of DLT registration. Unregistered entities will not be permitted to send commercial SMS through any telecom operator network in India.

Principal Entity Registration on DLT Platform India

Step 1: Principal Entity (PE) Registration

Register your business on any one authorised telecom operator's DLT platform — Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea, BSNL, or others. You must submit valid KYC documents including PAN card, GST certificate, Certificate of Incorporation (CIN), and your business details.

Once your documents are verified by the operator, a unique Entity ID is generated and shared with you. This Entity ID is then synchronised across all other DLT platforms in India automatically.

Download Entity Registration Guide
DLT Header Sender ID Registration India

Step 2: Header (Sender ID) Registration

Register all SMS Sender IDs (Headers) your business intends to use for sending messages. Headers must be registered under the correct message category:

  • Promotional
  • Transactional
  • Service Explicit
  • Service Implicit

Each approved header is assigned a unique Header ID upon approval. Only DLT-approved headers will be permitted to send SMS through operator networks.

DLT Content Template Registration India

Step 3: Content Template Registration

Every SMS message your business sends must have a pre-approved content template registered on the DLT platform. Each approved template receives a unique Template ID which must be passed along with every message at the time of sending.

As per TRAI guidelines effective October 1, 2024, all variable fields within templates must be pre-declared and properly tagged. Templates must clearly include your registered Brand Name or Business Name within the message content.

Review DTL Template Guidelines
PE TM Chain Binding DLT Portal India

Step 4: PE–TM Chain Binding

After completing your Entity, Header, and Template registration, you must bind your account with your authorised Telemarketer (TM) on the DLT portal. This step authorises your SMS service provider to send messages on your behalf.

  • Log in to your DLT portal
  • Navigate to "PE-TM Chain" or "Manage Telemarketer"
  • Click on "New Chain"
  • Enter the Fivo SMS Telemarketer ID
  • Submit for approval
View Full PE-TM Binding Guide

PE–TM Chain Binding & TRAI Regulatory Updates

Stay compliant with the latest TRAI DLT guidelines. All businesses must ensure their DLT account reflects the most current regulatory requirements to avoid message rejections.

PE–TM Chain Binding Requirement

As mandated by TRAI under TCCCPR 2018, every Principal Entity (PE) must complete the PE–TM (Principal Entity – Telemarketer) chain binding on the DLT platform before their SMS traffic can be processed and delivered through an authorised Telemarketer.

This binding process creates a verified, transparent communication chain between your registered business and your SMS service provider — ensuring every message sent is fully traceable and compliant with TRAI regulations.
View Step-by-Step PE-TM Binding Guide

TRAI Variable Tagging & CTA Whitelisting Guidelines (Effective 1st October 2024)

As per the latest TRAI regulatory update effective 1st October 2024, all variables used within DLT-registered SMS templates must be pre-declared and correctly tagged at the time of template submission. This requirement applies to all template types across all telecom operators.

Businesses must ensure that:

  • Only pre-approved variables are included in the registered template.
  • Each variable is correctly tagged according to its intended data type — for example: name, amount, date, OTP, account number.
  • No additional, undeclared, or hidden data is inserted dynamically at the time of message sending.
  • All Call-to-Action (CTA) elements — including URLs, short links, and callback phone numbers — are whitelisted and approved on the DLT portal before use.
⚠️ Important:

Failure to comply with variable tagging and CTA whitelisting requirements may result in template rejection or complete message blocking by telecom operators. Review all active templates and update them before the effective date to avoid disruption.

DLT Brand Name Inclusion Requirement (October 2020 Onwards)

As per TRAI-mandated DLT guidelines introduced in October 2020, every SMS content template registered by a Principal Entity must clearly and prominently include the complete registered Brand Name, Business Name, or Trademark within the body of the message content.

This requirement applies to all message categories — Promotional, Transactional, Service Implicit, and Service Explicit. Templates submitted without proper brand identification may be rejected by the operator or require modification and re-submission for approval.

📌 Important Note for Businesses:

Once your Entity ID and Sender Header are approved on any one telecom operator's DLT platform, the approval details are automatically synchronised across all other operator DLT systems in India. You do not need to re-register separately on each operator's platform for your Entity ID.

If you require assistance with DLT registration, template submission, or PE-TM binding, our compliance team is ready to help. Contact us at support@fivosms.co.uk or call +91 9310 189 890.

Authorised DLT Operators in India

You can register your business as a Principal Entity on any one of the authorised DLT platforms listed below. Once approved, your Entity ID, Headers, and Templates will be synchronised across all operators automatically.

Airtel DLT Registration Portal India Airtel DLT Portal: https://dltconnect.airtel.in/
Vodafone Idea VIL DLT Registration Portal Vodafone Idea (VIL Power): https://www.vilpower.in/
BSNL DLT Registration Portal India BSNL DLT Portal: https://www.ucc-bsnl.co.in/
MTNL DLT Registration Portal India MTNL DLT Portal: https://www.ucc-mtnl.in/
Jio TrueConnect DLT Registration Portal India Jio (TrueConnect): https://trueconnect.jio.com/#/
Tata Tele DLT Registration Portal India Tata Teleservices DLT Portal: https://telemarketer.tatateleservices.com:8082/
Videocon Smartping DLT Registration Portal India Videocon (Smartping): https://smartping.live/entity/login

Pre-DLT vs Post-DLT: Key Regulatory Changes Under TRAI TCCCPR 2018

The following table outlines the key differences between the pre-DLT and post-DLT regulatory environment for commercial SMS communication in India, as mandated by TRAI under TCCCPR 2018.

Pre DLT Post DLT Remarks
Customer Consent No Yes Verifiable digital records of all customer opt-ins are recorded and made available on the DLT platform. Customers can view and manage all their communication consents from a single dashboard.
Customer Preferences Yes Yes Customers can select specific days and time bands to block or allow commercial communications. This extends beyond standard DND preferences to include message category selection.
Entity / Enterprise Registration No Yes All businesses and entities must register with their Originating Access Provider (OAP) on the DLT platform before sending commercial SMS.
Telemarketer Registration Yes Yes Telemarketers must now register with their Originating Access Provider (OAP) — not directly with TRAI as was previously the case.
Header Registration No Yes Every SMS Sender ID (Header) and Voice CLI used by a business must be individually registered and approved on the DLT platform.
Message Categories Transactional Transactional Every SMS template must be registered under one of four approved categories: Promotional, Transactional, Service Implicit, or Service Explicit.
Promotional Promotional  
Govt Service (Inferred Consent) Government-issued communications are now classified under the Service (Inferred Consent) category.
  Service (Explicit Consent)  
Scrubbing Yes (DND check for Promotional SMS only) Yes (Promotional & Service Explicit) Messages are now scrubbed against multiple parameters including Consent, Customer Preference, Header approval, and Template ID — not just the DND list.
Complaint Management Yes Yes Telecom operators are now directly responsible for the resolution of all UCC complaints within defined regulatory timelines.
Interoperability Between Telecom Operators No Yes Entity, Telemarketer, Header, and Template registration details are shared and synchronised across all operator DLT networks in India.
100% Traceability No Yes Every commercial SMS sent in India is now fully recorded and traceable across the network using blockchain-based DLT technology.
Delivery Reports Yes No Delivery status reports for Promotional SMS traffic are no longer available post-DLT implementation.
1. Promotional Traffic
2. Transactional Traffic Yes Yes Delivery status reports for Transactional SMS traffic continue to be available post-DLT as before.

DLT Onboarding: Pre-DLT vs Post-DLT Process

Pre-DLT Process
Account creation was processed by SMS service providers based on sales team requests, with KYC documents submitted on internal portals only.
1. Telemarketers — operated as indirect senders only
2. Direct Enterprise Clients — registered separately
Sender IDs and Templates were submitted by customers for whitelisting on operator systems. No uniqueness check was applied to Sender ID allocation.
Message categories available:
Transactional
Promotional
Government
Post-DLT Process (Current)
All businesses, entities, and Telemarketers are now required to self-register directly with their chosen Originating Access Provider (OAP) on the official DLT platform. No third-party registration is permitted.
Every SMS Sender ID (Header) and Voice CLI must be individually registered and approved on the DLT platform. A uniqueness check is enforced — no two entities can share the same approved Header.
All SMS content templates — including customer consent templates and message content templates — must be pre-registered and approved on the DLT platform before use.
Updated message categories:
Transactional
Promotional
Service (Inferred / Implicit Consent)
Service (Explicit Consent)

DLT Registration Resources & Compliance Guides

Access our detailed step-by-step guides to ensure your business is fully compliant with all TRAI DLT regulations — from initial registration to template approval and PE-TM chain binding.

Complete Guide to DLT Template Registration (Best Practices)

A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to registering your SMS content templates on the DLT platform — including variable tagging requirements, brand name inclusion rules, and best practices for fast approval.

Read the Full Guide >>

Why is DLT Registration Mandatory in India?

Understand why TRAI introduced DLT registration, what it means for your business, and the consequences of operating without a valid DLT registration in India.


Read the Full Guide >>

PE–TM Chain Binding Process on the DLT Portal

A detailed walkthrough of the PE–TM chain binding process — the final and essential step to authorise Fivo SMS to send messages on behalf of your registered business entity.


Read the Full Guide >>

FAQs — DLT Registration

General Questions

Is DLT registration mandatory for all businesses in India?
Yes. DLT registration is mandatory under TRAI TCCCPR 2018 for every company, organisation, individual, Telemarketer, and Reseller that intends to send commercial SMS in India.
  • Register as a Principal Entity (PE) if you want to send SMS — whether promotional or transactional — to your customers.
  • Register as a Telemarketer (TM) if you are an SMS service provider, reseller, or aggregator offering bulk SMS services to other businesses.
Businesses that do not complete DLT registration will have their SMS traffic blocked by all Indian telecom operators.
Is there a fee for DLT registration in India?
Principal Entity (PE) registration is available free of charge on the Videocon (Smartping / Ping Connect) DLT platform. For Telemarketer (TM) registration, a fee of INR 5,000 + applicable GST is charged by operators including Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Jio, and others. Fees and processes may vary by operator — always check the respective operator's DLT portal for the most current registration fee information.
What are the steps for completing DLT registration?
The complete DLT registration process consists of four mandatory steps:
  • Step 1: Principal Entity (PE) / Business Registration
  • Step 2: Header (Sender ID) Registration
  • Step 3: Consent Template Registration
  • Step 4: Content Template Registration
For the complete step-by-step process, visit our DLT Registration Process & Guidelines page.
Do I register for DLT directly with TRAI?
No. While TRAI is the regulatory body that mandated DLT registration under TCCCPR 2018, the actual registration process is carried out directly through authorised telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone Idea (VIL Power), Jio (TrueConnect), Videocon (Smartping), MTNL, BSNL, and Tata Teleservices. You do not register with TRAI directly.
Is it mandatory for a Principal Entity to declare its line of business?
Yes. During DLT registration, every Principal Entity must select and declare their industry or line of business from the list of options provided on the DLT platform. This declaration is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
Can a Principal Entity send messages related to other lines of business?
No. As per TRAI regulations, a Principal Entity is strictly prohibited from sending commercial communications outside its registered line of business. SMS content must always relate directly to the declared business category of the PE.

Header (Sender ID) Questions

How do I register a Header (Sender ID) on the DLT platform?
The process varies slightly between operators. In general, log in to your registered DLT portal, navigate to the Header registration section, and submit your desired Sender ID along with the appropriate message category (Promotional, Transactional, Service Implicit, or Service Explicit). For operator-specific header registration guides for Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Jio, and Videocon, contact our support team at support@fivosms.co.uk.
My Sender ID has been approved on DLT — what should I do next?
Once your Sender ID (Header) receives DLT approval, you can begin sending SMS using that approved header through Fivo SMS. If your messages are still not going through 24 hours after DLT approval, contact our support team immediately at support@fivosms.co.uk with your Header ID and Entity ID details.
My Sender ID doesn't match my registered company name — what should I do?
In this case, you must upload supporting documentation to the DLT portal that demonstrates the connection between your company name and the requested Sender ID — for example, a trademark certificate, brand registration document, or a letter from your organisation on company letterhead. If the DLT registrar accepts the evidence, your Header may still receive approval.

Consent Template Questions

How do I register a consent template on the DLT platform?
The consent template registration process varies between operators. Log in to your DLT portal, navigate to the Consent Template section, and submit your consent message for approval. For guidance on the consent template process for specific operators, contact our support team at support@fivosms.co.uk.
Can a Principal Entity collect consent from new customers without registering a consent template?
No. Under TRAI regulations, it is mandatory for every Principal Entity to register an approved consent template on the DLT platform before collecting consent from new subscribers or sending any commercial communication to them.
How long is customer consent valid under DLT regulations?
As per TRAI TCCCPR 2018 regulations, customer consent acquired through the DLT platform is valid for 12 months from the date of approval. Consent must be renewed after this period if you wish to continue sending commercial communications to the same customers.

Content Template Questions

How do I register a content template on the DLT platform?
Log in to your DLT portal, navigate to the Content Template section, and submit your message content for approval. Your template must include your registered brand name, correctly tagged variables, and any whitelisted CTA elements. Once approved, a unique Template ID is assigned which must be used every time that message is sent. For a complete walkthrough, visit our DLT Template Registration Guide.

Operational Questions

What is the Fivo SMS Telemarketer ID?
After completing your Principal Entity or Telemarketer registration on the DLT portal, you must add Fivo SMS as your authorised Telemarketer by entering our Telemarketer ID in the PE-TM Chain Binding section of your DLT account. For the current Fivo SMS Telemarketer ID for each operator, click here or contact our support team.
Is DLT registration complete after receiving my Entity ID?
No. Receiving your Entity ID is only the first step. To complete your DLT registration, you must also:
  • Register and get approval for your Sender ID (Header)
  • Register and get approval for your SMS content templates
  • Add Fivo SMS as your authorised Telemarketer via PE-TM Chain Binding
Only after completing all four steps will your account be fully operational for sending commercial SMS.
Can I still send commercial SMS if I haven't completed DLT registration?
No. As per TRAI regulations, only messages sent using DLT-approved Sender IDs linked to DLT-registered templates will be processed and delivered by telecom operators. Any message sent using an unregistered Header or unapproved Template will be blocked at the operator level before reaching the recipient. We strongly recommend completing your full DLT registration immediately to avoid any disruption to your business communications.
I haven't received my Entity ID or Telemarketer ID after 2 days — what should I do?
Before contacting support, please verify that:
  • You have received and entered the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and email address.
  • You have clicked the email verification link sent to your registered email to confirm your account.
If both steps are complete and you still haven't received your ID, contact the support team of the operator you registered with, providing your Application Number, Company Name, and Registered Email ID. Operator support contacts:
  • Airtel: telemarketer.helpline@airtel.com
  • Vodafone Idea: support@vilpower.in
  • Videocon (Smartping): dlt.helpdesk@infotelconnect.com
  • Jio: jio.ISOMCCSupport@ril.com
The DLT portal shows "Organisation with this POI has already been registered" — what does this mean?
This error indicates that your business or PAN has previously been used to register on this DLT platform — either as a completed registration or an incomplete one. Click "Forgot Password" and follow the prompts to recover access to your existing account. If you are still unable to log in, contact the operator's support team directly for account recovery assistance.

PE–TM Chain Binding

How do I complete PE–TM Chain Binding on the DLT portal?
Follow these steps to bind your account with Fivo SMS as your authorised Telemarketer:
  • Step 1. Log in to your DLT portal using your registered credentials.
  • Step 2. Navigate to the "PE-TM Chain" or "Manage Telemarketer" section.
  • Step 3. Click on "New Chain" or "Add Telemarketer."
  • Step 4. Enter the Fivo SMS Telemarketer ID for your specific operator.
  • Step 5. Click "Submit" to send the binding request for approval.
For the Fivo SMS Telemarketer ID specific to your operator, contact us at support@fivosms.co.uk or visit our PE-TM Binding Guide.

CTA Whitelisting — TRAI Guidelines

What is CTA Whitelisting under TRAI DLT regulations?
CTA (Call-to-Action) Whitelisting is a regulatory requirement introduced by TRAI to prevent unsolicited commercial communication (UCC). It requires that all URLs, short links, and callback phone numbers included in SMS content templates must be pre-approved and whitelisted on the DLT platform before they can be used in any outgoing message.
Why is CTA Whitelisting important for businesses?
CTA Whitelisting protects consumers from spam and phishing links embedded in SMS messages. For businesses, it ensures that all links and callback numbers in your messages are verified, reducing the risk of message rejection and protecting your sender reputation. Non-whitelisted CTAs result in messages being rejected by telecom operators.
Do I need to whitelist CTAs on multiple DLT portals?
No. You only need to whitelist your CTA on one DLT portal. The whitelisting information is then synchronised across all operator platforms automatically.
Should static SMS CTAs (URLs and callback numbers) also be whitelisted?
Yes. All CTAs included in the static part of your SMS template — including fixed URLs and callback numbers — must be whitelisted on the DLT platform, not just dynamic variables.
What happens if a message contains a non-whitelisted CTA?
Any SMS containing a CTA that has not been whitelisted on the DLT platform will be rejected by telecom operators and will not be delivered to the recipient. Ensure all links and callback numbers are whitelisted before your campaign goes live.
Are redirection or short URLs allowed in SMS templates?
Yes. Redirection URLs are permitted via an approved Short URL mechanism. The short URL must be whitelisted on the DLT portal before use. Only Alpha and Alphanumeric Sender Headers are permitted for messages containing Short URLs — Numeric Headers are not allowed for this purpose.
Is the Header part of a Short URL case-sensitive?
This remains an area of active regulatory guidance. As a best practice, we recommend ensuring consistent case sensitivity between the Header used during whitelisting and the Header passed in the SMS content at the time of sending.
What is the default expiry period for a whitelisted Short URL?
The default validity period for a whitelisted Short URL on the DLT platform is 1 year from the date of approval. You must re-whitelist the URL after this period to continue using it in your SMS campaigns.
Must a Dynamic URL end with a question mark (?)?
Yes. As per DLT platform requirements, all Dynamic URLs used within SMS templates must end with a question mark (?) to indicate that variable parameters will follow. Ensure this formatting is applied consistently across all dynamic template submissions.
Do subdomain URLs need to be whitelisted separately?
Yes. Each subdomain URL must be whitelisted individually on the DLT portal — even if the root domain is already whitelisted. For example, if www.example.com is whitelisted, offers.example.com must be submitted and whitelisted separately.
Are IP address-based URLs permitted in SMS templates?
No. Only domain name-based URLs in the standard format (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) are permitted for whitelisting on the DLT platform. IP address-based URLs are not accepted and will be rejected during the whitelisting process.

Payment & Registration Validity

What payment methods are accepted for DLT registration?
DLT registration payments are accepted through the following modes — Online: Debit cards, credit cards, and internet banking. Offline: Cheque and Demand Draft (DD) payable to the respective operator. Available payment modes may vary between operators; please check your chosen operator's DLT portal for the most current payment options.
How long is Telemarketer registration valid? What is the renewal fee?
Telemarketer registration on the DLT platform is currently valid for five years from the date of approval. Renewal fees after this period are yet to be officially confirmed by TRAI and may be announced closer to the renewal date.

Queries & Operator Contacts

How do I contact my telecom operator for DLT queries or complaints?
Use the following official contact details for each operator's DLT support team:
  • Airtel — Email: telemarketer.helpline@airtel.com | Twitter: @airtelindia
  • Vodafone Idea (VIL Power) — Email: support@vilpower.in | Twitter: @vodaideanews
  • Videocon (Smartping / Ping Connect) — Email: dlt.helpdesk@infotelconnect.com or customercare@infotelconnect.com | Twitter: @ConnectBB
  • Jio (TrueConnect) — Email: jio.ISOMCCSupport@ril.com | Twitter: @jiocare
For Fivo SMS platform-related queries, contact our team at support@fivosms.co.uk or call +91 9310 189 890.
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