Commonly Used Terms in the SmsLocal DLT System: #

1. Connectivity Partners: These are the Telecom Operators such as Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone, MTNL, etc. Connectivity Partners play a vital role in the SmsLocal framework, collaborating with TRAI to regulate the DLT platform.

2. Marketing Communication: Messages primarily intended to promote a product or service are categorized as marketing communication. These messages are designed for business marketing purposes.

3. Authorization: The customer’s permission granted to the sender to receive marketing communication is referred to as authorization, which can be explicit or inferred.

4. Authorization Acquirer: A registered entity responsible for obtaining customer consent before sending promotional messages is known as an authorization acquirer.

5. Authorization Ledger: A systematic record of the consents acquired by a sender for sending marketing communication to customers. It includes all relevant consent details in a ledger format.

6. Authorization Registrar: The authorized entity responsible for maintaining the authorization ledger.

7. Authorization Template: The template of content presented to the customer when seeking permission to receive messages. It includes the purpose of consent and sender details.

8. Authorization Template Ledger: A distributed ledger containing the record of each authorization template, including the complete content and sender details.

9. Transactional Content Template: A registered template is used by a sender for sending transactional messages or service messages related to marketing communication. It may include both fixed and variable content.

10. Promotional Content Template: A registered template is used by a sender for sending promotional messages related to marketing communication. It contains fixed content common to all marketing communications.

11. Content Template Ledger: A ledger containing the record of every content template entity, along with content and sender details.

12. Content Template Registrar: The authorized entity responsible for maintaining the content template ledger.

13. Customer: The mobile subscriber who receives text messages. Under new TRAI regulations, customers have the right to set SMS receiving preferences, opt out, modify preferences, or file complaints against unsolicited spam messages.

14. Customer Preference Registration Facility (CPRF): A facility established by Connectivity Partners for registering, de-registering, or modifying customer preferences regarding marketing communication.

15. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT): An online database system where records of business entities, telemarketers, headers, and templates are securely and transparently stored. DLT is managed using Blockchain technology, with all details visible to entities within the panel.

16. Entity Ledger: A distributed ledger containing records of all entities registered for telemarketing-related functions.

17. Explicit Authorization: Consent that is directly verified by the recipient in a robust and verifiable manner and recorded by an authorization registrar is termed explicit authorization. For example, when an individual register their mobile number with a company or website to receive product updates,.

18. Header: A unique 6-digit string created by a business entity to send marketing communications.

19. Header Registration Facility (HRF): A facility established by Header Registrars for registering or de-registering the header of a principal entity for sending marketing communications.

20. Header Ledger: A distributed ledger maintains records of every header, its purpose, and details of the sender to whom it has been assigned.

21. Header Registrar: An authorized entity responsible for maintaining the header ledger, verifying headers, and managing header registration facilities.

22. Inferred Authorization: Permission reasonably inferred from the customer’s conduct or the relationship between the customer and the message sender. For example, an individual opens a bank account and receives messages related to new schemes and exclusive benefits.

23. One-Time Password (OTP): An automatically generated number used to authenticate and verify a user’s action for a single transaction.

24. Originating Connectivity Partner (OCP): The connectivity partner that provides telecom resources to a sender.

25. Preference Ledger: A distributed ledger recording customer preferences, such as communication mode, content category, and time frame, along with customer details.

26. Promotional Messages: commercial communication messages sent without explicit consent from the recipients.

27. Recipient: An authorized user of the number to whom a message is sent.

28. Registered Telemarketer: A telemarketer registered with Connectivity Partners according to specified procedures.

29. Scrubbing: The process of reviewing the target customer list provided by the sender to ensure that marketing communications align with recipient preferences and consent.

30. Sender: An individual or entity who sends a message.

31. Service Message: A message sent to facilitate, complete, or confirm a transaction or provide information related to a product or service.

32. Terminating Connectivity Partner (TCP): The Connectivity Partner of the message recipient.

33. Transactional Message: A message triggered by a transaction performed by the subscriber, who is also the sender’s customer. It should be sent within 30 minutes of the transaction and be directly related to it. Examples include OTPs, banking transactions, and product or service notifications.

34. Unsolicited Marketing Communication (UMC): marketing communication sent without the recipient’s consent or preference.

These terms provide a comprehensive understanding of the SmsLocal DLT system and its regulatory framework.