SMS and WhatsApp business messaging in India
Reach customers in India on SMS, WhatsApp, RCS and voice from one platform. We prepare and file your TRAI DLT registration with you, and SMS runs to Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL. BroadNet has an office in Pune and is licensed in every country where it operates.
A WhatsApp EMI reminder in Hindi and English from a sample lending app. Brand name and messages are sample data.
Short answer
Updated
Every business SMS in India, including OTPs, must pass TRAI's DLT scrubbing: you register as a Principal Entity, then register headers, consent templates and every content template, and declare the telemarketer chain. Messages that do not match are blocked. OmniChannels.ai, powered by BroadNet with an office in Pune, prepares and files the DLT registration with you, then sends SMS and WhatsApp with fallback. Approval stays with the operators.
What you can send in India with OmniChannels.ai
DLT registration handled with you
Our team prepares and files your Principal Entity, headers, consent templates and content templates, and declares the telemarketer chain. Portal fees are passed through at cost.
Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL
Direct routes to Jio, Airtel and Vi, and an operator route to BSNL, with delivery reports per network.
Template and link checks
We check templates against variable and whitelisting rules before submission, so fewer genuine messages are blocked at scrubbing.
WhatsApp Business API
BroadNet is an official Meta Business Solution Provider. Send approved templates, media and buttons, and run support conversations in the shared inbox.
One inbox for every channel
WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS replies and email land in one thread per customer, with assignment and tags.
Channel fallback
Send on WhatsApp first and fall back to SMS when a message is not delivered, with one webhook format for statuses.
Support from BroadNet's Pune office
BroadNet has an office in Pune, so you work with a team that knows the Indian market.
What to know before sending in India
A practical summary, not legal advice. TRAI and operator requirements change, so we confirm the current position for your traffic during onboarding.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| DLT registration | Mandatory. Your header and every message template are registered on DLT before sending. Our typical lead time for header registration is 3 to 7 business days once the entity is active. |
| Headers | Operators currently issue 6-character headers, letters for transactional and service traffic and digits for promotional. The network appends -P, -S, -T or -G to show the category. |
| Templates | Every message matches a registered template with tagged variables. A new wording means a new template and a new approval wait. |
| Consent and opt-out | TRAI's TCCCPR requires verifiable consent, and the DPDP Act 2023 adds consent capture and data-subject rights. Operators add the details needed to revoke consent to promotions. |
| Time bands | By default, promotional traffic is off outside 10:00 to 21:00 IST, and recipients can block more bands. Transactional messages are not blocked by these preferences. |
| Links | URLs, app links and call-back numbers must be whitelisted on DLT before use, or the message can be blocked even if the template is registered. |
How to launch business messaging in India
- 1
Register as a Principal Entity
Share your PAN, business proof and authorised person details. We prepare the sign-up on an operator's DLT portal.
- 2
Register headers
Choose headers by category: letters for transactional and service, digits for promotional.
- 3
Register templates
Register consent templates and content templates with tagged variables, and whitelist your URLs and call-back numbers.
- 4
Declare the chain
Authorise us as telemarketer on the portal with a letter of authorisation so your traffic is not rejected.
- 5
Connect WhatsApp, test and launch
Onboard through Meta Embedded Signup, send one test per template on each network and launch inside the allowed hours.
Is this the right setup for your India traffic?
A good fit when
- You need OTPs, alerts or campaigns in India and want DLT done with you.
- You change wording often and want templates checked before submission.
- You want WhatsApp and SMS fallback in one platform.
- You value a provider with an office in Pune.
Good to know before you start
- DLT approval decisions stay with the operators' registrars, and timelines are a guide, not a promise.
- A message that does not match a registered template is blocked, including OTPs.
- Promotions follow recipient preferences and time bands, so some numbers are filtered out.
- Rules change, and we confirm current requirements at onboarding.
SMS list rates in India
Indicative price per SMS segment by monthly volume tier, averaged across operators, from BroadNet's published rate card. The more you send, the lower the rate.
Indicative list prices in USD before taxes and sender ID fees, reviewed September 24, 2026. Your quote confirms the final rate.
| Operator | Up to 100,000 |
|---|---|
| Reliance Jio | $0.0022 |
| Bharti Airtel | $0.0024 |
| Vi (Vodafone Idea) | $0.0026 |
India business messaging questions
What is DLT registration for SMS in India?
DLT is the mandatory registry that Indian operators run under TRAI's TCCCPR 2018 rules. You record your identity, headers, consent templates and content templates on it, and each SMS is checked against those records before delivery.
Do OTP messages need DLT registration too?
Yes. Transactional and service messages, including OTPs, must use a registered header and a registered content template. They are not blocked by recipient preferences, but a message that does not match its template is still rejected.
How long does DLT registration take?
There is no fixed time. Vi's DLT FAQ gives 72 hours for entity verification and about an hour for header and template review once the entity is active. Our typical header lead time is 3 to 7 business days, which is a guide, not a promise.
Is the DLT header always 6 characters?
Not as a legal rule. TRAI's definition allows up to 11 characters, but operators currently issue 6-character headers: letters for transactional and service traffic, digits for promotional. Confirm what the portal accepts before choosing a name.
When can I send promotional SMS in India?
By default, the time bands outside 10:00 to 21:00 IST are off for promotional traffic, and recipients can block further bands or categories. Transactional messages are not blocked by these preferences.
Why was my SMS with a link blocked?
TRAI requires URLs, APK links, OTT links and call-back numbers to be whitelisted by the sender. A link that is not whitelisted can block the message even when the template is registered.
Does BroadNet have an office in India?
Yes. BroadNet Technologies has an office in Pune, alongside its headquarters in Dubai and 14 other offices worldwide.
Can I use the WhatsApp Business API in India?
Yes. BroadNet is an official Meta Business Solution Provider, so you onboard through Meta Embedded Signup and send approved templates. WhatsApp is charged at Meta's rate with zero markup.
Guides on this topic
- SMS & OTPDLT Registration for Bulk SMS in India: Step-by-Step Guide9 min read
- SMS & OTPOTP Messages on WhatsApp and SMS: Security, Delivery and Fraud9 min read
- ComplianceSMS Marketing Rules by Country: Consent, Hours, Sender ID10 min read
Explore more of the platform
Plan your India messaging with us
Tell us your entity, use cases and message wording. We'll prepare your DLT registration, WhatsApp onboarding and fallback.