ROLE OF TRAI and DLT
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a block-chain based registration system.
According to TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), telemarketers have to be registered in the DLT platform. It is being issued in the public interest to control the SMS spam from various marketing firms. The DLT platform keep records of all the transactions made by the network Participants. It is mandatory as per the new TRAI regulations. Communication messages like OTP, Verification codes, Notification, registration codes etc sent by the business to their customers need to be registered in the TRAI DLT platform. The aim to implement DLT at operator and customer end is create more transparency and reducing the incidence of spam and fraud done through sms/ customize links.
What is DLT?
It is important to understand what DLT is and why brands need to register with operator/Telco’s say AIRTL, Vodafone, BSNL, Videocon, MTNL and more.
Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is a digital system for recording the transaction of assets in which the transactions and their details are recorded in multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, distributed ledgers have no central data store or administration functionality. DLT refers to the protocols and supporting infrastructure that allow computers in different locations to propose and validate transactions and update records in a synchronised way across a network.
Brands can address multiple Use Cases with SMS Marketing –
- Triggered Messages
- OTP Messages
- Reset password Messaged
- Verifying order confirmations
- Monitoring shipments and providing delivery tracking information.
- Appointment scheduling and confirmation.
- Replying to Frequently Asked Questions.
- Handling support tickets.
- Getting feedback on products and services.
- Special offers
- Reminder like Birthday, Anniversary, Milestone messages etc.
- Mega Sales like Independence Day, Diwali, Holi, Christmas, New Year
- Chain Campaigns like Valentine week
This page explains different type of Headers with examples.
PROMOTIONAL
Headers that can be used for sending Promotional messages fall under PROMOTIONAL type.
Promotional message means commercial communication that can be sent to a mobile subscriber whose preferences are not set (not on DND). Or, any commercial communication that an enterprise can send to an intended recipient after taking consent to send such messages.
Header (6 numeric): 565690, 787878, 987123, 555555, etc.
Promotional Headers should start with the number that matches with the category (as per DND Preferences).
1 Banking/Insurance/Financial products/ credit cards.
Ex: 123890, 154987
2 Real Estate
Ex: 234567, 264789
3 Education
Ex: 397134, 321456
4 Health
Ex: 467931, 444654
5 Consumer goods and automobiles
Ex: 582974, 564123
6 Communication/Broadcasting / Entertainment/IT
Ex: 631469, 693147
7 Tourism and Leisure
Ex: 789456, 714369
8 Food and Beverages
Ex: 896321, 816934
0 (Zero) Others – Category that doesn’t appear in 1-8.
Ex: 012389, 098654
OTHER Headers that can be used for sending Transactional, Service Implicit and Service Explicit message fall under OTHER type. Same Header can be used against all three types of messages. All These Headers are Case Sensitive.
Header (6-alpha): CFIRST, CfiRST, ABCabc, etc.
Transactional: Message which contains One Time Password (OTP) and requires to complete a banking transaction initiated by the bank customer. This is applicable to all banks including national/scheduled/ private/ Govt. and MNC banks.
Ex: TRHDFC, DCBmsg, MkotaK
Service Implicit: Messages arising out of customer’s actions or his relationship with the Sender, that is not promotional, and is not in the interest of the customer to block such communications. These messages may or may not be triggered by a subscriber-initiated transaction and will not be blocked for subscribers who have otherwise blocked service messages also.
– Confirmation messages of a net banking or a credit/debit transaction.
– Product purchase confirmation
- Tracking details of Product/Any Item
- Delivery status of a parcel.
- OTP required for e-commerce website, app login, social media apps, KYC, etc.
- Messages from schools regarding attendance/transport.
- Messages from hospitals/clinics regarding appointment/discharge reports.
- Govt./TRAI/DoT mandated messages, advisories, messages from state Govt., LEAs, local authorities, traffic advisories, election commission, disaster management advisories.
- Service messages from car workshops, gadget service centres.
- Day-end/ month-end settlement alerts to securities/demat account holders.
Service Explicit: Any service message which doesn’t fall under the category of service message (Implicit) will be sent only against service explicit, digitally verified/verifiable consent that has been taken from the subscriber by the respective enterprise.
Ex: CFIRST, Cfirst, cfIRST
OTHER – Government – Only Govt. entities can register these Headers that can be used for sending Transactional, Service
Implicit and Service Explicit messages.
Header (3 to 9 numeric and should start with 1): 1444, 19898, 15555, 19090909, etc.
Operator Codes:
| Service Provider | Code |
| Aircel, Dishnet Wireless | D |
| Airtel | A |
| BSNL | B |
| BPL Mobile/Loop Telecom | L |
| Datacom Solutions | C |
| HFCL Infotel | H |
| Idea Cellular | I |
| MTNL | M |
| Reliance Communications | R |
| Reliance Telecom | E |
| S tel | S |
| Shyam Telecom | Y |
| Spice Telecom | P |
| Swan Telecom | W |
| Tata Teleservices | T |
| Unitech | U |
| Vodafone | V |
State Codes that signify the SMS Gateway Origin:
| Service Circle | Code |
| Andhra Pradesh | A |
| Assam | S |
| Bihar | B |
| Delhi | D |
| Gujarat | G |
| Haryana | H |
| Himachal Pradesh | I |
| Jammu & Kashmir | J |
| Karnataka | X |
| Kerala | L |
| Kolkata | K |
| Madhya Pradesh | Y |
| Maharashtra | Z |
| Mumbai | M |
| North East | N |
| Orissa | O |
| Punjab | P |
| Rajasthan | R |
| Tamil Nadu | T |
| UP-East | E |
| UP-West | W |
| West Bengal | V |
