Send SMS to India from Abroad
Reach Indian mobile users with OTPs, alerts and campaigns that pass India's DLT rules. We guide international businesses through DLT registration and send your traffic over direct routes with Airtel, Vi, BSNL and Jio, through our API or SMPP.
- 4Indian operators, direct
- 15,000+Businesses served
- 2016Serving businesses since
Reaching Indian mobile users from abroad
India has one of the strictest business SMS systems in the world. Every commercial SMS must come from a business registered on a DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) platform, with an approved header (sender ID) and a template for every message. Messages that don't match are blocked by the operators, even if they are sent from outside India.
Bulk SMS India is a CPaaS provider and SMS aggregator with direct agreements and connectivity with Airtel, Vi, BSNL and Jio. We guide international businesses through DLT, set up the right routes for OTP, service and promotional SMS, and connect your systems over our HTTP SMS API or SMPP.
- DLT guidanceEntity, headers and templates.
- Direct operator routesAirtel, Vi, BSNL and Jio.
- Separate routesOTP, service and promotional.
- API and SMPPConnect your existing platform.
India SMS rules international senders must follow
Set by TRAI and enforced by Indian operators.
| Rule | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| DLT registration | Your business, headers and templates are registered on DLT | Unregistered messages are blocked |
| Header suffix | Headers end in -P, -S, -T or -G for promotional, service, transactional or government | Shows customers what kind of message it is |
| Template match | Every message must match an approved template, with variables only where registered | Mismatched messages are rejected |
| Whitelisted links | URLs, APK links and call-back numbers must be whitelisted | Unlisted links get the message blocked |
| Promotional timing | Promotional SMS only between 9 AM and 9 PM IST, never to DND or opted-out numbers | Avoids blocks and complaints |
Check your templates free with our DLT template checker, and read the full TRAI SMS regulations guide.
Domestic DLT route or ILDO route?
International businesses can reach Indian numbers in two ways. We offer both and help you choose.
| Domestic DLT route | ILDO (international) route | |
|---|---|---|
| DLT registration | Needed: entity, headers and templates | Not needed for senders outside India |
| Sender ID shown | Your brand header, e.g. JD-ACMEIN-T | Usually a numeric ID |
| Best for | OTP, service and promotional SMS at scale | OTP and transactional SMS, quick start |
| Cost per SMS | Lower | Higher (international termination) |
| Promotional SMS | Yes, within DLT and DND rules | Restricted |
New to India? Start on the ILDO route while your DLT registration is approved, then move high-volume traffic to the domestic route. See our ILDO SMS route page.
International businesses we help reach India
Any company outside India with Indian customers or users.
Start sending SMS to India in four steps
Our team guides you through each step.
- 1
Talk to our team
Share your use cases, expected volume and how you want to connect.
- 2
DLT registration
We guide you through registering your entity, headers and templates.
- 3
Connect
Use the HTTP API or SMPP, and pass your DLT entity and template IDs.
- 4
Test and go live
Send tests to Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL numbers, check delivery reports and launch.
Frequently asked questions
Can a company outside India send SMS to Indian numbers?
Yes. International businesses can send OTP, service and promotional SMS to Indian mobile numbers, as long as the messages follow TRAI DLT rules. Bulk SMS India guides you through DLT and sends your traffic over direct operator routes.
Do foreign companies need DLT registration?
Yes. Every business that sends commercial SMS to Indian numbers needs a DLT-registered entity, headers and templates, wherever the business is based. Our team helps you through the process.
Why are my international OTPs to India not delivered?
Usually because the message does not come from a DLT-registered header and template, or because it travels on an international route that Indian operators filter. Sending through an Indian provider with registered templates on transactional routes fixes this.
Can I use an international sender ID in India?
Indian operators expect DLT-registered headers for business SMS. Talk to our team about the right header setup for your use case.
Can I connect my platform over SMPP or API?
Yes. You can connect over our HTTP SMS API or SMPP and pass your DLT entity ID and template ID with each message. Delivery reports come back in real time.
Which Indian operators do you connect to?
Bulk SMS India has direct agreements and connectivity with Airtel, Vodafone Idea (Vi), BSNL and Jio.
How is SMS to India priced for international clients?
Pricing depends on the route (OTP, service or promotional) and your volume. Contact our team for a quote.
Ready to send?
Tell us your countries, volumes and message types. Our team will recommend the right sender type and set up a test.