Frequently Asked Questions

1. Login to the MTNL DLT portal

2. Select Template - > Content Template from the Template tab.

3. Content Template Registration screen will be displayed as depicted in the image below.

Note- Implicit for Transactional SMS 

4. Select your message text route in the Template Type.

5. You need to select SMS in Template Type, create a Content Template name, choose Header from the list of previously approved Headers. Select the approved Consent ID and select your business category from the dropdown list.

As you can see in the image below, all the required fields have been filled up. Here, we have entered Service Explicit in the Type of Communication, SMS in Template Type, Offers in Content Template name, choose the Header as CHKSMS, selected the Consent ID and entered Others as the business category.

Content Templates are mapped with Sender ID’s so if you’ve approved your content template with one sender id then you can only send that approved SMS from only one sender id.

6. Next, create the Template Content. You can add variables with {#var#}. Using {#var#} in the text message, you can change the variable part of the message and keep the remaining SMS text the same for all users.

In the Template Content, you need to provide your actual SMS which you will be sending to your customers. Here, we have entered the content as “Today {#var#}, we have a special offer on {#var#}”. The first variable used in this template represents the date and the second variable denotes the product or service details. Thus, you can add multiple variables to denote the values that may change for different customers.

Important points related to variables

• The variable format {#var#} is case-sensitive.
• Variables are mandatory in the Transactional and Service messages category.
• The promotional message category can have fixed content as well as variable content.
• There is no limit to the number of variables used in a message template.
• Values such as amount, date, account number, OTP, codes, URL, customer names, transaction ID, etc. have to be replaced with a variable.

7. After entering all the details on the Content Template Registration page, click on the Submit button.

It can take 3-7 working days for Content Template approval from MTNL DLT after submitting your request

8. The details of your Content Templates submitted for approval can be viewed from the Content Template Details tab as shown in the image below. Templates requested, rejected, registered will be visible on the DLT platform. Also, you can search for a particular template in the search box and even check the templates of a specific time range from the date field.

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Service-implicit

Any message arising out of customers' actions or their existing relationship with the enterprise, and that is not promotional, is considered a service-implicit message. These include:

• Confirmation messages of net banking and credit/debit card transactions
• Product purchase confirmation and delivery status from ecommerce websites
• Customer is making payments through a payment wallet for an ecommerce website or mobile app, and an OTP is sent to complete the transaction
• OTPs required for ecommerce websites, app logins, social media apps, authentication and verification links, securities trading, demat account operations, KYC, and ewallet registration
  
• Messages from TSP/ISP
• Periodic balance info, bill generation, bill dispatch, due date reminders, recharge confirmation (DTH, cable, prepaid electricity recharge, etc.)
• Delivery notifications, updates, and periodic upgrades
• Messages from retail stores related to invoices and warranties
• Messages from schools, such as attendance and transport alerts
• Messages from hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, radiologists, and pathologists about registration, appointments, discharge, and reports
• Confirmatory messages from app-based services
• Government/DOT/TRAI mandated messages
• Service updates from car workshops, repair shops, and gadgets service centers
• Directory services such as Justdial and Yellow Pages
• Day-end and month-end settlement alerts to securities and demat account holders
  

Actual Message	Template Format
Thank you for using EMI Facility on your XXXX Bank Credit Card 4***1234 EMI request for Rs. 89000.00 executed on 01/07/2019	Thank you for using EMI Facility on your IDBI Bank Credit Card {#var#} EMI request for {#var#} executed on {#var#}
XXX BANK - Your new bill for BESCOM Bangalore - account 0123456000 for Rs 4339.00 could not get scheduled because the auto-pay limit is less than the bill amount.	XXX BANK - Your new bill for {#var#} - account {#var#} for Rs {#var#} could not get scheduled because the auto-pay limit is less than the bill amount.
Account: 123456 is your Pansoi account verification code.	Account: {#var#} is your Pansoi account verification code

Service-explicit

Service-explicit messages require explicit consent from customers that has been verified directly from the recipient in a robust and verifiable manner and recorded by the consent registrar. This category includes any service messages that don’t fall under the service-implicit category.

Customer consent templates must be linked to content templates in the service-explicit category.

Examples include messages to the existing customers recommending or promoting products or services.

Actual Message	Template Format
Your Rs.500 exclusive voucher is ready. Redeem it on purchase of Rs.1,000 at M&M. Use code 654321001. Valid till 31 Mar 2021! T&C.	Your Rs.{#var#} exclusive voucher is ready. Redeem it on purchase of Rs.{#var#} at M&M. Use code {#var#}. Valid till {#var#}! T&C.
To best serve you and others, please click on mosl.co/ywq8FBJpAn to share your meeting experience with your Ojas Insurance representative	To best serve you and others, please click on {#var#} to share your meeting experience with {#var#}
Baba Finserv personal loans need minimal documentation. Meet your financial needs in one click: http://m.BabajFin.in/Iphr8tFE	Baba Finserv personal loans need minimal documentation. Meet your financial needs in one click: {#var#}.

Promotional

These are any messages with an intention to promote or sell products, goods, or services. Service content mixed with promotional content is treated as promotional. These messages are sent to customers after performing the preference and consent scrubbing function.

Customer consent templates must be linked to content templates in the promotional category.

Examples:

Actual Message	Template Format
Lifetime free bank credit card with vouchers from LensKart, Pepperfry, Grabon worth Rs.3000. SMS “apply” to 5676766. TnC apply	Lifetime free bank credit card with vouchers from LensKart, Pepperfry, Grabon worth Rs.{#var#}. SMS “{#var#}” to 5676766. TnC apply
Pay just Rs 640* pm & get Rs 83,333 for 120 months or payout of Rs 1,00,00,000 with LIC (Life Insurance Cover) for your family. http://px2.in/pAD4Tls	Pay just Rs {#var#} pm & get Rs {#var#} for {#var#} months or payout of Rs {#var#} with LIC (Life Insurance Cover) for your family. {#var#}
You can win Rs 20,000 in fantasy cricket! Use code 542321. Install Badger app now to win. Click https://abc.com	You can win Rs {#var#} in fantasy cricket! Use code {#var#}. Install Badger app now to win. Click {#var#}

Content template validation

• Use of two or more spaces before, after, or between words is not advisable.
• All special characters are allowed.
• The variable format in text is {#var#}, which is case-sensitive. You can also insert a variable by clicking the insert variable radio button.
• Transactional and service content should always have some variable content.
• Promotional content can have completely fixed content or some variable content.
• There is no limitation on the number of variables per message.
• Values such as a dates, amounts, account numbers, names, and OTPs must be inserted using variables.

Dos for content templates

• Use the promotional category for communications intended to be sent only from numerical sender IDs.
• Only banking enterprises should use the transactional category for OTP messages during fund transfers, online payments, and merchant transactions.
• Choose relevant and recognizable names for content templates.
• Use the message type as “TEXT” for all general messages and “Unicode” for regional messages.
• Use variable {#var#} insertion for values such as a dates, amounts, account numbers, names, and OTPs.
  

Don’ts for content templates

• Don't use the same content template with multiple headers.
• Don't make header selections against irrelevant templates.
• Don't selecting the transactional content types for nonbanking enterprises.
• Don't use double spaces in templates. Check for this using a tool like Notepad++ before template submission.
• Don't use templates with fewer than six characters or with only variable insertion.

How to register a content template in a DLT portal

For MTNL DLT platform

• Select Template > Content Template Registration
• Choose template type as SMS
• Choose your content type — English or other languages
• Select a Category from the drop-down list
• Select Consent ID from the drop-down list
• Choose a type of communication — Promotional / Transactional / Service-Inferred / Service-Explicit
• Select Header from the drop-down list
• Add the template content in the "template content" text box and click Submit.