Set up SMS
PublicConfigure SMS sending with DLT compliance handled for you (managed) or using your own registered sender ID (BYOM).
SMS is a workspace-scoped channel. The TRAI DLT sender ID is registered per Principal Entity (per brand) — there’s no org-tier DLT. For multi-outlet brands, each outlet can map to its own DLT sender; the egress adapter calls Control Plane’s /v1/sender/resolve per send to pick the right one based on the contact’s location.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- Admin access to your Active Reach workspace
- For BYOM: an active DLT registration with TRAI and credentials from your SMS provider
- For BYOM: a 6-character sender ID registered with your telecom operator
Choose your path
| Path | Sender ID | DLT cost | Setup time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | AEGISM (marketing) / AEGIST (transactional) | None — Active Reach is a TRAI-registered PE | 1-2 days | Teams without DLT registration |
| BYOM | Your custom sender ID (e.g., ACMEIN) | ₹5,000–15,000 (your registration) | 5 minutes | Teams with existing DLT sender IDs |
Managed setup
Choose “Active Reach-Managed”
Go to Settings → Channels → SMS → Setup under your workspace (/dashboard/{workspaceSlug}/settings/channels). Select Active Reach-Managed.
Benefits:
- No DLT registration cost (saves ₹5,000–15,000)
- 500+ pre-approved templates ready to use immediately
- Active Reach handles DLT template re-submissions on rejections
Provide business details
Fill in:
- Company name
- Business category (Retail, E-Commerce, Healthcare, Finance, Education, F&B, etc.)
- Contact email
- Expected monthly volume
- Use case (marketing, transactional, or both)
- Website (optional)
Active Reach is a TRAI-registered Principal Entity with approved DLT sender IDs. Your business details help configure the correct message categories. No DLT portal, no paperwork, no cost from your side.
Wait for activation
After submitting, the managed SMS request enters a review queue. Activation takes 1–2 business days. You’ll be notified by email when the channel is live.
BYOM setup
Choose “Bring Your Own Messaging (BYOM)”
BYOM is an admin-gated unlock. If the BYOM option is greyed out for a given channel, platform admin needs to flip byom_allowed.sms on this org via the BYOM Channel Gating power card before you can register your own provider.
Select BYOM on the setup page.
Select your provider
| Provider | Strengths | Region |
|---|---|---|
| MSG91 | India’s most popular bulk SMS, strong DLT sync | India |
| Gupshup Enterprise | Strong DLT template sync, widely used | India |
| Infobip CPaaS | Global carrier, reliable Indian routing | Global |
| Kaleyra | Telecom-owned, low latency | India |
| Twilio | Global platform | Global (limited India DLT support) |
Twilio’s India routing requires pre-approved DLT templates and may have higher latency. For high-volume India SMS, MSG91 or Gupshup are recommended.
If the same provider is already connected on another channel (e.g., WhatsApp), the credentials step is skipped — the system reuses your existing encrypted config.
Enter credentials
Fields vary by provider:
| Provider | Required fields |
|---|---|
| MSG91 | Auth key |
| Gupshup | API key + user ID |
| Infobip | API key + base URL (optional) |
| Kaleyra | API key + SID |
| Twilio | Account SID (starts with AC) + Auth token |
Credentials are validated live before you can proceed.
Configure your sender ID
- Sender ID — exactly 6 uppercase alphanumeric characters (e.g.,
ACMEIN). Must match your DLT portal registration exactly. - DLT Entity ID (optional) — your 19-digit TRAI PE ID. Enables automatic template sync so Active Reach can pull your approved templates.
- Fallback toggle — if enabled, falls back to AEGIST/AEGISM if your provider is temporarily unavailable.
Under TRAI’s DLT mandate, all Indian commercial SMS must use a 6-character alphanumeric Sender ID registered with your telecom operator (Airtel / Vi / BSNL / Jio portal). This appears as the sender name in every SMS.
For multi-outlet brands, the egress adapter resolves a per-outlet sender ID for each send by calling Control Plane’s /v1/sender/resolve?channel=sms with the contact’s location_id. Falls back to the workspace-default sender if no per-outlet mapping is configured.
Send a test SMS
Enter a phone number in E.164 format (e.g., +919876543210) and hit Send test. The wizard sends a real SMS and confirms delivery.
You’re done
The summary shows your provider, sender ID, DLT PE ID (if provided), fallback status, and test result.
What’s next
- Create your first SMS campaign
- Manage SMS templates (template sync from DLT portal)
- Troubleshoot delivery issues