If your business sends bulk SMS in India like OTPs, alerts, promotional messages then you must comply with DLT registration.

At Digimiles, we recommend registering on Vodafone’s DLT portal – Vilpower. This guide walks you through the entire process without the confusion.

What is DLT Registration and Why Does It Matter?

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) introduced the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCPR) 2018) to tackle spam SMS. Under this rule, every business that wants to send commercial SMS to Indian phone numbers must register on a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform first.

No DLT registration = no SMS delivery. It’s that simple.

⚠️ Important This is not optional. TRAI mandates DLT registration for all businesses sending commercial SMS in India – whether you send 500 messages or 5 lakh. If your sender ID and message template are not registered, telecom operators will block your SMS before it ever reaches the customer.

DLT works like a shared database across all major telecom operators – Vodafone (Vilpower), Jio, Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, and TATA. Once you register on any one platform, your Entity ID, headers (Sender ID), and SMS templates get shared across all operators. You only need to register once.

What is Vilpower? (Vodafone’s DLT Platform)

Vilpower is the official DLT portal run by Vi (Vodafone Idea). It is one of the six TRAI-approved DLT platforms in India.

You can access it at www.vilpower.in.

Many businesses prefer Vilpower because Vi has a large subscriber base, and the platform is simple to register.

Key Terms You Should Know Before You Start

Before you even open the Vilpower portal, understand the following terms. They come up at every stage of the DLT registration process.

Principal Entity (PE) – That’s your business, the company registering on the DLT platform to send SMS. You register once as a PE and get a unique Entity ID.

Header (Sender ID) – The name or number your customers see when they receive your SMS. E.g., For transactional SMS, it is 6-alphabetic like DIGIML and promotional it is random number like 524897. You must register every header you plan to use.

Template – The actual SMS message you want to send to your customers. It must be pre-approved by the DLT platform.

Telemarketer (TM) – The SMS service provider you use to send messages, like Digimiles. You link your PE account to your telemarketer’s ID during registration. Just like you have PE ID, telemarketer also have an ID.

Promotional SMS – Marketing messages sent to potential customers. These can only go to non-DND numbers and must use a numeric header (6 digits) matching your industry.

Service Implicit SMS – Transactional messages sent to your own registered users – OTPs, alerts, order updates. These can reach DND numbers and use a 6-letter alphabetic header.

Documents You Need for Vilpower DLT Registration

Getting your documents ready before you start makes the DLT registration process easier. Here’s the complete checklist you can follow:

Business PAN Card (mandatory for all business types)
Any one Proof of Entity: GST Registration Certificate / Certificate of Incorporation / Shop & Establishment Certificate / TAN Registration / FSSAI License / Udyam (MSME) Registration Certificate
Letter of Authorization (LOA) – download from Vilpower, fill on company letterhead, sign and upload
Authorized Signatory Letter – downloadable from the Vilpower portal
Valid business email ID (for OTP, account verification and future updates)
Active mobile number (for OTP verification)

📝 Sole Proprietors – Read This If you run a sole proprietorship, you don’t need a Business PAN Card, LOA, or Authorized Signatory Letter. A personal PAN Card + your firm’s registration certificate is enough. Make sure the name on your PAN matches the name you enter during registration.

🚫 Who Cannot Register – Individuals with no business registration, no GST certificate, no firm registration, no certificate of incorporation are not eligible for DLT registration on Vilpower or any other DLT platform, as per TRAI guidelines.

How Much Does Vilpower DLT Registration Cost?

Rs. 5,900 – Per year | GST Inclusive | Paid directly to Vilpower

This is the platform registration fee charged by Vilpower (Vi). It is separate from what you pay your SMS provider like Digimiles. You pay Vilpower directly during the registration process.

A few things to keep in mind about the fee:

It is ₹5,900 per year, inclusive of GST – no hidden charges
You pay once during Step 1 (PE registration), and your account is valid for one year
Header and template registration on Vilpower are free of charge
This fee goes to Vilpower (Vi), not to your SMS provider

Figure 1: The 3-step DLT registration process on Vilpower (Vodafone’s DLT portal). All three steps must be completed before your first SMS can be sent.

Vilpower DLT Registration Process (3 Steps)

Step 1 – Principal Entity (PE) Registration

1. Go to vilpower.in/signup and select “As Enterprise”

If this is your first-ever DLT registration (on Vilpower or any other platform), select“No”when asked if you have an existing PE ID

2. Enter your Business PAN number and verify it

Make sure the PAN belongs to the business, not the individual (unless you’re a sole proprietor)

3. Fill in basic details

Select your Business Type from the dropdown – Pvt. Ltd., LLP, Sole Proprietor, Partnership, etc.
Enter the name of the authorized person (this must match exactly what you write in the LOA)
Enter your business email ID and mobile number – both will receive OTPs
Set your DLT portal password

4. Verify mobile number via OTP, then verify your email ID

After email verification, you’ll be signed out automatically, that’s normal
Log back in and verify your mobile once more via OTP

5. Fill in KYC details

Business Type, Business Name, your name as per PAN card, and complete Business Address
The Business Address must match exactly what is printed on your Proof of Entity document – spelling, pin code, everything

6. Upload your identity and entity documents

Business PAN Card
One Proof of Entity (GST Certificate / Certificate of Incorporation / Shop & Establishment / TAN / FSSAI / Udyam)
LOA on company letterhead (download here, fill and sign)
Authorized Signatory Letter (download here, fill and sign)

7. Add your Telemarketer details – this is how Digimiles is linked to your account

Telemarketer Name	Digimiles India Private Limited
Telemarketer ID	1102377110000011178

8. Pay the registration fee of ₹5,900 (GST inclusive) and click “Create Account”

A pop-up shows your temporary registration number – note it down
Your account will be reviewed and activated within 48 hours
You’ll receive a separate confirmation email once activated

✅ Once Step 1 is approved, You’ll get your Entity ID – a unique number that identifies your business across all DLT platforms. Save this. You’ll need it when sending SMS through Digimiles.

Step 2 – Header (Sender ID) Registration

It is nothing but the sender ID. Think of it like the “From” field in an email. You need a separate header registered for promotional & transactional SMS.

Promotional SMS Header

Promotional headers are 6-digit numeric and must start with a digit that matches your industry. Please note this is a TRAI requirement.

⚠️ Note on Promotional SMS – Promotional SMS can only be sent to non-DND numbers. If a recipient has registered on the DND (Do Not Disturb) list, your promotional message will be not sent, regardless of whether your header is approved.

Service Implicit (Transactional) SMS Header

For OTPs, order confirmations, delivery updates, password resets, and any service-related message, use a 6-letter alphabetic header that represents your brand name.

Examples: DIGIML for Digimiles, FLPKRT for Flipkart, AMAZIN for Amazon.

How to Register a Header on Vilpower

Log in to your Vilpower account after receiving PE approval
Go to the Header menu and click “Add New Header”
Select the SMS category – Promotional or Service Implicit
Enter your desired sender ID (6-digit number for promotional, 6-letter code for transactional)
Submit – approval takes 24–48 working hours

Once approved, the header shows as “Approved” in your Header section. That’s your green light to use it.

Step 3 – Content Template Registration

A content template is nothing but your SMS template(s). Every SMS you send must be approved on the Vilpower DLT portal. Even a single word/character of difference can cause delivery failure, so you need to be careful.

How to Register a Template on Vilpower

Go to Template → Content Template → Add
Select the Template Type – Promotional or Service Implicit (must match your header type)
Give it a reference name – something that helps you identify it later. E.g., “OTP Login SMS” or “Promo Diwali Offer”
Write your message, using {#var#} for any dynamic/variable content
Add your entity/company nameat the end of the message (mandatory)
Submit – approval takes 24-48 hours

Understanding Variables in SMS Templates

Rule	Detail
Variable syntax	`{#var#}` – use exactly this format
No. of variables allowed per template	2 variables per SMS template
Max characters per variable	Upto 30 characters
No variable needed?	Just write the fixed message without any `{#var#}`
Entity name	Must appear in the template

Sample SMS Templates

OTP template (Service Implicit):
Dear {#var#}, your OTP to log in is {#var#}. Do not share this with anyone. – YourCompanyName

Order confirmation template (Service Implicit):
Hi {#var#}, your order {#var#} has been confirmed and will be delivered within 3–5 business days. – YourCompanyName

Promotional template:
Get flat 30% off on all products this weekend. Use code SAVE30 at checkout. Visit yourwebsite.com – YourCompanyName

💡 Template Tip – Write your template exactly as it will be sent, including spaces, punctuation, and the entity name at the end. When your SMS goes out, it must match the approved template (except the variable values). Any deviation will cause delivery failure.

What to Do After Everything Gets Approved

Once your PE, header, and template are all approved on Vilpower, you’re ready to send SMS. Here’s what to do next if you’re using Digimiles.

Share your Entity ID with Digimiles
Share your approved Header (Sender ID)
Share your approved Template ID (visible in the Template section of your Vilpower account)
Integrate with the Digimiles API using this format:

http://sms.digimiles.in/bulksms/bulksms?username=XYZ&password=XYZCC&type=0&dlr=1 &destination=99160XXXXX&source=XYZABC&message=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx &entityid=XXXXXXXXXXXXXX&tempid=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Common Errors During Vilpower DLT Registration (And How to Avoid Them)

Most registration delays aren’t because the process is difficult, they’re because of small mistakes. Here are the ones that come up most often.

Error	Why It Happens	How to Avoid
Document rejected	Business address on KYC doesn’t match the uploaded Proof of Entity	Copy the address character-by-character from your GST or incorporation certificate
LOA rejection	Name on LOA doesn’t match the authorized person entered during signup	Use the exact same name in both places. No initials vs. full names.
Template failed	Live SMS doesn’t match approved template exactly	Copy-paste the template content, never type it by hand
Header rejected	Promotional numeric header doesn’t start with the right industry digit	Check the industry-to-digit mapping before submitting your header
SMS not delivered to DND	Using promotional header for transactional messages	Register a separate Service Implicit header for OTPs and alerts
Account not activated after 48 hrs	Documents incomplete or blurry	Upload clear, colour scans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Vilpower DLT registration?

Vilpower is the DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platform run by Vi (Vodafone Idea). DLT registration on Vilpower means registering your business as a Principal Entity so you can legally send commercial SMS to Indian phone numbers, as mandated by TRAI under TCCPR 2018 guidelines.

Is Vilpower DLT registration compulsory?

Yes. If your business sends bulk SMS, including OTPs, promotional messages, or service alerts, you must register on a TRAI-approved DLT platform like Vilpower. Without registration, telecom operators will block your messages.

How long does Vilpower DLT registration take?

PE (entity) registration approval typically takes up to 48 hours after document submission. Header approval takes 24-48 working hours. Template approval also takes 24-48 hours. In total, expect 3–5 business days from signup to your first SMS going out.

What is the Vilpower DLT registration fee?

Vilpower charges ₹5,900 per year, inclusive of GST. This fee is paid directly to Vilpower during the PE registration step. Header and template registration are free of charge.

Do I need to register on all DLT platforms or just one?

You only need to register on one DLT platform. As per TRAI guidelines, all DLT operators are required to share registration data (Entity ID, headers, and templates) across platforms.

Can a sole proprietor register on Vilpower?

Yes. Sole proprietors can register using a personal PAN Card and a firm registration certificate. They do not need a Business PAN Card, LOA, or Authorized Signatory Letter, unlike companies and LLPs.

What is an Entity ID in DLT?

Your Entity ID is a unique ID assigned to your business after PE registration is approved on a DLT platform. It is required in every API call you make through your SMS provider.

My SMS is getting blocked even after DLT registration, why?

The most common reasons are:

the live message doesn’t exactly match your approved template,
you’re sending a promotional message to a DND number,
your header or template is approved on one platform but the data hasn’t synced yet across other operators (can take a few hours).

This guide covers DLT registration on Vilpower (Vodafone’s platform) as per TRAI’s TCCPR 2018 regulations. For support, visit vilpower.in/supportmatrix.

Once your DLT registration is done, the next step is picking the right SMS provider. Here’s how the best bulk SMS providers in India compare on pricing, delivery, and support.