What is Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)?
TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) had released The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR) on 19th July 2018, with a vision to reduce the spamming SMS and create a cleaner and more transparent system. Under this regulation, TRAI has mandated the use of Blockchain technology, also known as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to implement the solution under which it has asked to register Sender ID with the service operators. SMS sent by non-registered entities will be blocked as per the communication from the TRAI.
What are the schools supposed to do according to TCCCPR?
As per the new regulations, The Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR) released on 19th July 2018 by TRAI, all the SMS communications can only be sent by entities registered with DLT. SMS sent by non-registered entities will be blocked as per the communication from the TRAI.
The schools have to register as per the process in the DLT platform created by each of the SMS service operators. Here are few operators to register your Entity, this will allow you to easily register your entity on the DLT platform:
- Jio URL
- Vodafone Idea Ltd DLT URL
- BSNL DLT URL
- Tata TTSL URL
- Videocon DLT URL
- Airtel URL
As part of the process, you will be required to submit details such as Business Identity (PAN), Business Address Proof (GST/TAN) and a Letter of Authorization on the network portal. Post submission, you will receive the Unique Entity ID that you can later use to register (KYC) on the other portals. This Unique Entity ID can then be used to register with all other operators. Please note that once you complete the registration with the DLT portal, you will have to complete the KYC process with the rest of the operators.
After the registration, add the header/sender ID of your choice (if available with TRAI) in your DLT account. While you’re adding the Header/Sender ID.
- Select Service Implicit Transaction or Others SMS Type.
- Enter the Header you desire and then Search. (It is subject to availability)
- Enter the purpose of your transactional SMS.
- Click on SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL.
Once your Sender ID is approved, forward your Approved Sender ID and your unique entity ID to the support team at support@campus365.io for it to be registered in our record for your school.
How can the schools register to DLT platform?
Here are few operators to register your your Entity, this will allow you to easily register your entity on the DLT platform:
- Jio URL
- Vodafone Idea Ltd DLT URL
- BSNL DLT URL
- Tata TTSL URL
- Videocon DLT URL
- Airtel URL
As part of the process, you will be required to submit details such as Business Identity (PAN), Business Address Proof (GST/TAN) and Letter of Authorization on the network portal. Post submission, you will receive the Unique Entity ID that you can later use to register (KYC) on the other portals. This Unique Entity ID can then be used to register with all other operators.
Please note that once you complete the registration with the DLT portal, you will have to complete the KYC process with the rest of the operators. After the registration, add the header/sender ID of your choice (if available with TRAI) in your DLT account.
While you’re adding the Header/Sender ID:
- Select Service Implicit Transaction or Others SMS Type.
- Enter the Header you desire and then Search. (It is subject to availability)
- Enter the purpose of your transactional SMS.
- Click on SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL.
Once your Sender ID is approved, forward your Approved Sender ID and your unique entity ID to the support team at support@campus365.io for it to be registered in our record for your school.
What are the options if a school does not want to go through DLT registration?
If the school does not want to through the DLT registration, as per the directive, we will not be able to send any kind of SMS communication to its stakeholders. In such a scenario, alternative mechanisms like email or mobile notification are the only ways to communicate.
For instance, in case the school has enabled OTP based login, then it will be sent only via email instead of SMS. Similarly, any periodic communications or reminders like fee dues payment, student attendance details, etc. can only be sent as a mobile notification or email. Schools should be aware of these limitations before deciding to not go through the DLT registration.
What are the types of SMS and SMS Header (or Sender ID)?
This document 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
9. (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 type of messages. All These Headers are Case Sensitive. Header (6-alpha): TRUBLQ, TRUblq, TRubLQ, trublq, KLMNOP, DLTdlt, 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/her 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.
- 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 centers.
- Day-end/ month-end settlement alerts to securities/demat account holders. Ex: ABCDE, AFioma, uniFco.
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: NUTUKI, PRizem, semRTA OTHER – Govt. 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.
Headers: Carry out additional checks for look-alike headers which may mislead to a common recipient of commercial communication, it may also include proximity checks, similarity after substring swaps specifically in case of government entities, corporate(s), well-known brands while assigning headers irrespective of current assignments of such headers, and to follow specific directions, orders or instructions, if any, issued from time to time by the Authority. Various problem areas which are related to effectiveness and efficiency of the current regulatory framework have either been observed or came into notice are:
i. The existing system takes about 24 hours to register preferences and requires up to seven
days to enforce the revised preferences,
ii. Usually time required to resolve UCC complaints and take action against defaulter is more than seven days. This long-time window is exploited by the unregistered telemarketers to send UCC,
iii. Despite measures taken by the TSPs to control UCC from Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) and provisions in the regulations for the disconnection of telecom resources, UCC from Unregistered Telemarketers is still continuing,
iv. Due to false complaints or fake identities against which connections are taken, the telecom resources of person who might not have indulged in sending UCC are sometimes disconnected.
v. Intuitive and Intelligent Mobile App for registering preferences and making complaints is required for most Operating Systems and Platforms in the mobile device market, which would enable device users to make complaints against the sender of UCC in a convenient and user friendly manner,
vi. The existing system takes a long time to make preferences made by the customer effective,
vii. Cases, where the request (consent) is taken by organizations or individuals to send transactional messages, are unverifiable and accessible, as well as, customers don’t have the choice to revoke such consent,
viii. Transactional Message headers are abused to send promotional messages,
ix. Cases of non-traceability of Senders of UCC, and intermediaries,
x. Cases brought to notice by SEBI and RBI about UCC messages related to financial, trade and security market (by unauthorized entities)
xi. New ways used by telemarketers to make UCC, such as robocalls and silent calls which may be of concern to the customer.
How to do Template Registration in DLT Account?
Template registration with the DLT Platform is now a mandatory process and this needs to be done by every client intending on executing messages to their clients. In order to register the Template, you will first need to have done the Entity Registration with the operators. You will also need to do the Sender ID registration with the operators as well. The Template registration process is quite simple across operators and you can find the guide for each operator below:
- Idea-Vodafone
- Airtel
- BSNL
- Tata
- Videocon
- Jio
Once you have applied for the template, you will hear back from the operators regarding the status within 24-48 hours.
What is a Brand Name?
The brand name is a sort of signature introduced by the DLT platform. Brand Name or the “identifying name” of any client needs to be added at the end of every message. This will help the clients to have a really good understanding of who exactly is sending them the message. To have a better understanding of this “Brand Name”, please find a few examples on how to add your Brand Name.
Scenario
Scenario 1 :
Entities notably called with abbreviations and unique.
Scenario 2 :
Entities whose abbreviations represent 2 different names, must use complete entity names at the footer.
Scenario 3:
Entities whose registered name is different from their registered trademark name, can use their trademark name.
Scenario 4:
Entities having multiple brands operated under its registered name, should use their complete brand name.
Entity name
Entity Name: “STATE BANK OF INDIA”
Entity name with same abbreviations: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI); NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD (NPCI)
Entity name: Bundl Technologies Private Ltd (Swiggy) or Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd (ACT Fibernet)
Entity Name: ADITYA BIRLA FASHION AND RETAIL LIMITED
Template examples:
OTP for online purchase of Rs. {#var#} at {#var#} thru State Bank Debit Card {#var#} is {#var#}. Do not share this with anyone – SBI or State Bank of India
Template eg.1: Amt. of {#var#} for {#var#} ({#var#}) will be credited to ur A/C of {#var#} – National Payments Corporation of India Template eg.2: Amt. of {#var#} for {#var#} ({#var#}) has been generated with the due date of {#var#} – Nuclear Power Corporation of India
Template eg.1: Dear Customer, ₹{#var#} has been deducted from your Swiggy Money (Powered by ICICI Bank) balance at {#var#}. Updated Swiggy Money balance is ₹{#var#} – Swiggy Template eg.2: Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing ACT. Our engineer will visit in the next {#var#} hours to confirm feasibility at your location. – ACT Fibernet
Template eg.1: Congratulations! \n Your shopping has unlocked a gift voucher of Rs.1000 redeemable on Pantaloons.com on Rs.2499 spend. Valid till 15th Dec. TC. Use Code: {#var#} – Pantaloons
Template eg.2: As we turn 2 in India, visit the American Eagle store and get a {#var#} OFF on our ENTIRE COLLECTION, exclusively for you! Limited period offer. *T&C apply. Stay safe and keep shopping with us! Learn
more – American Eagle Template eg.3: Congratulations! \n Your shopping has unlocked a gift voucher of Rs.{#var#} redeemable at {#var#} on Rs.{#var#} spend. Valid till {#var#}. TC. Use Code: {#var#} – Louis Philippe.
Notes:
- While uploading the template to DLT portal, please make sure dynamic variables are properly updated, Ex. in Campus 365 ${contact Name} is for Addressing recipient, ${student Name} is for printing Student Name, But in case of DLT, all variables are to be placed with {#var#}.
- Only Campus 365 Approved Templates will be available for sending SMS. If any template approved in DLT portal, but still in Pending status in Campus 365, Message/Alerts sent using those Templates will not be Delivered, but would be charged.