What are the compliance requirements for sending domestic SMS in India?

Domestic SMS require DLT registration. Companies must register their business and Sender ID on the mobile operators' DLT portal.

What is DLT registration?

DLT registration involves registering your business and Sender ID on the mobile operators' Distributed Ledger Technology portal for sending domestic SMS in India.

What content types are prohibited in SMS messages to India?

Prohibited content includes firearms, gambling, adult content, money/loan offers, political or religious content, controlled substances, alcohol-related content, and messages with shortened URLs.

Are there any best practices for sending SMS in India?

Yes, best practices include obtaining opt-in consent, sending messages during daytime hours, supporting HELP/STOP messages in local languages, and avoiding do-not-call registries.

Can international SMS bypass India's Do-Not-Disturb database?

Yes, international SMS sent via ILDO connections bypass India's Do-Not-Disturb database.

What is concatenated messaging?

Concatenated messaging allows SMS messages exceeding 160 characters to be split and reassembled on the recipient's device.

Are there time-of-day restrictions for sending international SMS to India?

No, there are no time-of-day restrictions for sending international SMS to India.

What sender ID types are supported for domestic SMS in India?

Currently, only DLT-registered Alphanumeric Sender IDs are supported for domestic SMS in India.

Can promotional messages be sent via DLT-approved sender IDs in India?

Currently, promotional messages are not supported, but Sent is considering adding support for promotional messages via DLT-approved 6-digit Sender IDs in the future.

What happens if I send an SMS to a landline number in India?

The attempt will return a 400 error with error code 21614, and the message will not appear in logs or incur charges.

What is the error code for sending an SMS to a landline in India?

The error code is 21614, which indicates an attempt to send an SMS to a landline number.

What should I do to ensure SMS compliance in India?

Consult with legal counsel, obtain opt-in consent, adhere to local laws, and follow best practices for SMS campaigns.

Where can I find more information on SMS compliance in India?

For more information, visit the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's website at https://www.trai.gov.in.

Can SMS messages include shortened URLs when sent to India?

No, messages with shortened URLs are prohibited when sending SMS to India.

What is the message length limit for SMS in India?

The message length for SMS in India is 160 characters. Messages longer than this will be split into concatenated segments.

Is two-way SMS supported in India?

No, two-way SMS is not supported in India.

Can I send SMS to landline numbers in India?

No, SMS cannot be sent to landline numbers in India. The Sent API will return a 400 error for such cases.

Is two-way SMS supported in India?

No, two-way SMS is not supported in India. You can send SMS messages to users in India, but they cannot reply via SMS.

What is the maximum length for an SMS in India?

The standard message length for SMS in India is 160 characters. Messages exceeding this limit will be split into multiple segments.

Can SMS messages be sent to landline numbers in India?

No, SMS messages cannot be sent to landline numbers in India. Attempts will result in a 400 error with error code 21614.

Is MMS supported in India?

No, standard MMS is not supported in India. Multimedia content is converted into SMS with an embedded URL for online viewing.

What is number portability in India?

Number portability allows users to switch mobile carriers while keeping their phone numbers.

What are the compliance requirements for sending international SMS to India?

International SMS do not require DLT registration and are sent via International Long Distance Operator connections, bypassing India's DND database.

SMS Guidelines for India: Compliance, Message Length, and Best Practices

When sending SMS messages to India, it is essential to adhere to specific guidelines to ensure compliance and successful delivery. This guide provides vital insights for businesses and developers using the Sent API to communicate with Indian mobile users.

Two-Way SMS Support in India

Currently, two-way SMS is not supported in India. This means you can send SMS messages to users in India, but they cannot reply via SMS.

Number Portability and Message Concatenation

India supports number portability, allowing users to switch mobile carriers while keeping their phone numbers. Additionally, Sent supports concatenated messages in India, meaning if your SMS exceeds the standard 160-character limit, it will be split and reassembled on the recipient's device.

Note: Concatenation may not be supported for certain sender ID types, and message splitting can vary based on character encoding.

Message Length Limitations

The standard message length for SMS in India is 160 characters. Exceeding this limit results in the message being split into multiple segments, which are then concatenated on the recipient's device.

MMS Support

Sent does not support standard MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) in India. Instead, multimedia content like images and videos is converted into SMS with an embedded URL, directing recipients to view the content online.

Sending SMS to Landline Numbers

SMS messages cannot be sent to landline numbers in India. Attempts to send an SMS to a landline using the Sent API will return a 400 error with error code 21614. These messages will not appear in logs, and the account will not be charged.

Compliance Considerations for International and Domestic SMS

Sent offers SMS delivery to India through both International and Domestic gateways, each with distinct compliance requirements:

International SMS

No DLT registration is needed.
Messages are sent via mobile operators' International Long Distance Operator (ILDO) connections.
Messages use random ILDO-approved short codes (e.g., 54321).
International messages bypass India's Do-Not-Disturb (DND) database, with no time-of-day restrictions.

Domestic SMS

DLT registration is mandatory. Companies must register their business and Sender ID on the mobile operators' Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) portal.
Messages are delivered using the customer’s DLT-registered Alphanumeric Sender ID.
Currently, only Alphanumeric Sender IDs are supported, but Sent is considering adding support for promotional messages via DLT-approved 6-digit Sender IDs in the future.

Prohibited Content and Best Practices

When sending SMS messages to India, certain content types are prohibited:

Firearms
Gambling
Adult content
Money/loan offers
Political or religious content
Controlled substances (including cannabis)
Alcohol-related content
Messages with shortened URLs

Sent strongly advises consulting with legal counsel to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. Here are some best practices for SMS campaigns in India:

Obtain opt-in consent from users before sending any communication.
Send messages during the recipient's daytime hours, unless urgent.
Ensure SMS campaigns support HELP/STOP messages in the local language.
Avoid contacting users on do-not-call or do-not-disturb registries.

By adhering to these guidelines and best practices, you can ensure that your SMS campaigns in India comply with local regulations and effectively reach your audience. For more information on compliance, visit the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) website.