Bulk SMS that actually delivers.
Every SMS in India must pass through TRAI's DLT system — registered entity, approved sender ID, approved template. LigiComms handles the sending side so your messages reach the handset instead of getting silently blocked by the operator.
What DLT registration involves
DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) is TRAI's mandatory framework for commercial SMS in India, in effect since 2022. You register three things on a telecom operator's DLT portal — and LigiComms takes it from there.
| What you register | What it is | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Entity (PE ID) | Your business — identified by a 13-character ID starting with "TM", tied to your PAN | 1–3 business days |
| Sender ID (Header) | The six-character name recipients see — e.g. LGICOM. One entity can have multiple headers | 1–2 business days |
| Templates | Every message format you want to send, with fixed text and variable placeholders | 2–7 business days |
Register on any one DLT portal — Airtel, Jio, Vodafone, BSNL, Tata Tele, Vilpower or Smartping — and your registrations sync across every telecom network automatically. The entity registration fee is approximately ₹5,900 (₹5,000 + GST), one-time.
Documents you need
- Business PAN card
- GST certificate
- Company registration certificate (or valid address and identity proof for sole proprietors)
- Authorised signatory letter — the person registering on behalf of the entity
- Your planned sender IDs and the text of every message template you want to send
If your documents are in order, the full process takes roughly 7 to 10 working days from start to first message sent.
SMS categories under TRAI
| Category | What it covers | Timing | DND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transactional | OTPs, payment alerts, order confirmations | 24/7 | Bypasses DND |
| Service Implicit | Delivery updates, appointment reminders, account activity | 24/7 | Bypasses DND |
| Service Explicit | Service-related offers to existing customers (e.g. credit limit upgrade) | 24/7 | Needs explicit consent |
| Promotional | Marketing offers, discount campaigns, event announcements | 10 AM – 9 PM IST | Blocked unless DCA consent |
Messages sent outside the allowed window or to DND numbers without proper consent are silently dropped at the network level — they never reach the handset, and you still get charged by the provider. DLT compliance prevents this. See every SMS term defined in the glossary.
How SMS works in LigiComms
- Connect your SMS provider. Go to Settings, pick Fast2SMS (India, DLT-native, lowest cost) or Plivo (global reach), and enter your API credentials. They are encrypted at rest.
- Register your DLT templates. Add your entity ID, sender headers and template IDs on the Templates page. If your provider is India-focused, the DLT wizard walks you through entity and header setup.
- Send. Pick a template, fill in the variables (customer name, order number, appointment time), select your recipients, and send. Each SMS deducts from your credit wallet — the exact cost per segment is shown on the Rates page.
What it costs
- Fast2SMS (India): Around ₹0.30 to ₹0.35 per SMS segment — the most cost-effective option for domestic messages.
- Plivo (global): Around ₹0.42 to ₹0.50 per segment — covers international numbers that Fast2SMS does not reach.
- Automatic refunds: If the provider reports a delivery failure, the credit is returned to your wallet immediately.
- Transparent ledger: Every deduction, refund and recharge is visible in your wallet history.
Non-compliance penalties from TRAI escalate: first offense is a warning, second offense caps you at 20 messages per day for six months, and a third offense can result in complete disconnection. DLT registration is not optional.
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