What Is DLT and Why Does It Exist?

DLT stands for Distributed Ledger Technology. In the context of SMS in India, it refers to a mandatory regulatory framework introduced by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) in 2018 and enforced from 2021 onwards.

Before DLT, spam and fraudulent SMS were rampant. Anyone could send bulk messages with fake sender names. DLT changed this by requiring every business that sends commercial or transactional SMS to Indian mobile numbers to be registered, verified, and pre-approved before any message reaches a recipient's phone.

TRAI's DLT framework protects mobile users from spam and fraud

Which DLT Platform Should You Register On?

There are multiple TRAI-approved DLT platforms in India, operated by different telecom companies. The good news — you only need to register on one platform. Your approved templates and headers are shared across all telecom operators automatically.

Choose any one of the following platforms. All are equivalent in terms of compliance.

Documents You Will Need Before Starting

Keep these documents ready before you begin your DLT registration. Having them in hand will make the process smooth and fast.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your DLT Template ID

Follow these five steps in order. The entire process typically takes 2–5 business days for full approval.

1

Create an Account on a DLT Platform ~15 min

Go to your chosen DLT platform (e.g. vilpower.in). Click "Register" or "Sign Up". Select your entity type — Company, Partnership, Proprietorship, Trust, Government, or Other. Enter your business name, authorised person's details, email address, and mobile number. You will receive an OTP to verify your mobile number.

2

Complete KYC and Entity Verification ~1–2 days

After creating your account, you will need to complete the KYC (Know Your Customer) process. Upload the required documents:

• Business PAN card
• GST Certificate or Business Registration document
• Authorised signatory's ID proof (Aadhaar / Passport)
• A self-declaration or authorisation letter on company letterhead (some platforms require this)

The platform will review and approve your entity registration. This typically takes 24 to 48 hours. You will receive an email confirmation once approved.

3

Register Your Header (Sender ID) ~24 hrs

A Header is the 6-character alphanumeric name that your SMS recipients see as the sender. For example: UDOTEL, BKINFO, or SWGALR.

• Go to the Header section in your DLT dashboard
• Click Add Header
• Enter your desired 6-character sender name (letters only, no numbers for transactional SMS)
• Select the header type — Transactional for OTPs and service messages, Promotional for marketing campaigns
• Submit and wait for approval

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Header naming rules

Headers for Transactional SMS must be 6 alphabetic characters only (e.g. UDOTEL). Headers for Promotional SMS use a numeric format starting with specific prefixes. Your header should clearly represent your brand. Avoid generic names that may be confused with other businesses.

4

Create and Submit Your SMS Template ~24–72 hrs

This is the core step. A template is the fixed text of your SMS message with {#var#} placeholders where dynamic content (like OTPs or names) will be inserted.

• Navigate to the Templates section in your DLT dashboard
• Click Add Template
• Select the correct template type (see below)
• Select the Header you registered in Step 3
• Write your message using {#var#} for any dynamic values
• Submit for approval

Examples of correctly formatted templates:

OTP Template:
Your OTP for login is {#var#}. Valid for 10 minutes. Do not share with anyone. — UDOTEL

Transactional Template:
Dear {#var#}, your payment of Rs.{#var#} has been received. Ref: {#var#}. — UDOTEL

5

Copy Your Template ID and Share with Your SMS Provider Done!

Once your template is approved, go back to the Templates section of your DLT dashboard. You will see a unique numeric Template ID assigned to your template — something like 1307161560000021890.

Copy this ID and provide it to your SMS service provider (like Unique Digital Outreach) along with your approved Header. These two pieces of information are required every time you send SMS so that the telecom operator can verify your messages are from an approved template.

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Keep a record of all your Template IDs

If you have multiple SMS templates (e.g. one for OTP, one for order updates, one for payment alerts), each will have its own unique Template ID. Keep a spreadsheet or document with your template text, its type, and its ID for easy reference.

The Three Types of SMS Templates

When creating a template on the DLT platform, you must select the correct template type. Each type has different rules and is intended for different use cases.

What Your SMS Looks Like After Approval

Once your DLT template is approved and you start sending SMS through a provider like Unique Digital Outreach, here is what the message looks like on a recipient's phone:

SMS Pricing with Unique Digital Outreach

Once your DLT registration is complete and you have your Template ID and Header, you are ready to start sending SMS. With Unique Digital Outreach, SMS is priced simply and competitively:

Track delivery rates, open rates, and campaign performance in real time

Beyond pricing, Unique Digital Outreach provides a complete SMS infrastructure — from helping you complete your DLT registration, to setting up your sender headers, building your message templates, and providing a delivery dashboard to monitor SMS performance in real time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Using a variable in a place the template does not allow

Every DLT template has a fixed structure. The {#var#} placeholder can only be used for genuinely dynamic values like OTPs, names, amounts, or reference numbers. You cannot make the entire message a variable or use variables to swap out the core message content — the fixed text must be clearly visible in the template.

❌ Sending a message that doesn't match the approved template

The SMS you send at delivery time must match the approved DLT template exactly, with only the variable placeholders replaced. Any deviation — including adding extra text, changing punctuation, or altering the fixed content — will cause the message to be blocked by the telecom operator's scrubbing system.

❌ Not including the Template ID when sending

When you submit an SMS through an API or platform, you must pass your DLT Template ID as a parameter in the API call. If you forget to include it, or use the wrong Template ID, the message will be rejected at the network level.

❌ Using an expired or unapproved template

DLT platforms can deactivate templates if they are flagged for misuse or if your entity registration lapses. Always check that your templates are in Approved status before running campaigns. Renew your entity registration annually to avoid disruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions