Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a blockchain-based registration portal that creates immutable logs that cannot be manipulated and keeps track of all records of transactions made by network participants via SMS. The portal uses cryptographic keys and signatures to keep its data secure.

If you send SMS messages in India, you are required to use the DLT registration portal. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) prevents customers from unsolicited commercial communication, such as fraud calls and disturbing SMS messages. TRAI has released the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR) 2018 to regulate unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and bring transparency in the unorganized SMS industry. These guidelines enhance control, prevent any fraudulent practice, and provide greater safety to the end customer.

Note: As a result of the revised guidelines, there is a difference in the way transactional and promotional messages are handled. You can no longer receive delivery reports for promotional traffic. 

Per the revised TRAI guidelines, the companies who want to communicate with their customers will now have to register with telecom operators for sending SMS messages on the DLT portal. The businesses and SMS providers will be accountable to telecom operators who will be directly accountable to TRAI. 

Note: If the client entity is not registered on the DLT portal, then their SMS transactions will be blocked by DLT.

Register an entity/enterprise on the DLT portal

To comply with the new regulation, all enterprises need to register on the DLT system, along with other details like headers, templates, and consents.

The first step includes details of KYC (Know Your Customer) documents like PAN, GST, TAN, CIN, etc. The process has been designed for easy and quick completion. Your organization will get a unique Entity ID.

Below are some of the commonly required documents for registration. Make sure that you check the list on each DLT registration portal.

• Business identity: PAN
• Business entity address proof: GST / TAN
• Letter of authorization: Co. authorizing the individual. The format is available on the portal.
• Registration fees: Rs. 5900. Check the portal in case fees have been revised.
  

Register the headers (sender ID)

Messages are classified into:

• Promotional
• Transactional
• Service Explicit
• Service Implicit

Entities need to register all of their headers on the platform. Every header gets a unique Header ID that is shared across other DLT platforms.

• SMS Header:
  • 6 character numeric header for promotional messages. During delivery, the 'AD-' are inserted in front of the client's configured ID.
  • 6 character alpha header for transactional/service messages.
• Voice header: 140XX series for promotional messages. Fixed-line number series (like 040, 044, 022) for transactional/service messages.
  

Register the content template

DLT requires to register all your templates in their system. Once you create a template, you retain the template ownership across all platforms. Every template gets a unique template ID shared across other DLT platforms.

You can register on any telecom operator’s DLT portal. Below are a few telecom operators' portals where you can register your entity.

• Vodafone Idea Ltd DLT URL: https://www.vilpower.in/
• Videocon DLT URL: https://smartping.live/entity/login
• BSNL DLT URL: https://www.ucc-bsnl.co.in/
• Jio DLT URL:  https://trueconnect.jio.com/#/
• Airtel DLT URL: https://www.airtel.in/business/commercial-communication/home
• Tata Teleservices DLT URL : https://telemarketer.tatateleservices.com:8082/

Each DLT portal has provided a step-by-step process to perform the registration. Register on any of the DLT platforms by filling in the required information and documents and to get a temporary ID. After the operator verifies the documents, you will receive your unique entity ID (EntityId). Next, follow the process to register the headers on the DLT portal.

Provide Acoustic the registered sender IDs, entity ID, and template ID

You'll need to give Acoustic the following IDs so these IDs can be used to send outbound SMS messages:

• Registered sender IDs
• Entity ID
• Template ID

Existing customers

If you are an existing Acoustic customer, open a support case with the provisioning team and share the sender ID, Entity ID, template ID, and header details to make the necessary changes into your SMS organization.

New customers

If you are a new customer, open a support case with the provisioning team including the completed CAF forms. Make sure that the forms include the details for the sender IDs registered on the DLT portal. To create a request for new SMS provisioning, follow the instructions in the SMS carrier approval process, forms, and examples article.