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Sender ID (Header)

A Sender ID (also called a header) is the name or number that appears as the sender when an SMS is delivered to the recipient. In India, all sender IDs must be registered on a DLT portal before they can be used for sending SMS.

What Is a Sender ID?​

When you receive an SMS from a business, the sender name displayed (e.g., EXOTL, HDFCBK, AMZN) is the Sender ID. It is a 6-character alphabetic identifier for transactional SMS or a 6-digit numeric code for promotional SMS.

Sender ID Format​

SMS TypeFormatExample
Transactional6 uppercase alphabetic charactersEXOTL, HDFCBK
Promotional6 digits (numeric)777888
note

The first two characters of a transactional sender ID are reserved for the telecom operator prefix, meaning only the last 4 characters are customizable. However, on most DLT portals, you register the full 6-character header.

Registering a Sender ID​

Step 1: Choose Your DLT Portal​

Register your sender ID on the same DLT portal where your entity is registered:

OperatorPortal
Jiotrueconnect.jio.com
Airtelairtel.in/business/commercial-communication
Vodafone-Ideavilpower.in
BSNLucc-bsnl.co.in
MTNLucc-mtnl.in

Step 2: Navigate to Header Registration​

  1. Log in to your DLT portal.
  2. Go to Header or Sender ID section.
  3. Click Add New Header or Register Header.

Step 3: Fill in Header Details​

FieldDescriptionExample
Header TypeTransactional or PromotionalTransactional
Header Value6-character sender IDEXOTL
CategoryBusiness categoryE-commerce
Associated TemplatesTemplates linked to this headerSelect applicable templates

Step 4: Submit for Approval​

  1. Submit the header for DLT approval.
  2. Approval typically takes 1-3 business days.
  3. Once approved, the header can be used to send SMS via Exotel.

Mapping Sender ID in Exotel​

After DLT approval, configure the sender ID in your Exotel account:

  1. Log in to the Exotel Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Settings > SMS Settings or App Bazaar > SMS.
  3. Add your DLT-approved sender ID.
  4. Enter the associated DLT Entity ID.
  5. Save the configuration.

Using Sender ID When Sending SMS​

Pass the sender ID in the From parameter when using the Send SMS API:

curl -X POST "https://<api_key>:<api_token>@api.exotel.com/v1/Accounts/<account_sid>/Sms/send" \
  -d "From=EXOTL" \
  -d "To=+919876543210" \
  -d "Body=Your OTP is 123456" \
  -d "DltEntityId=1234567890123" \
  -d "DltTemplateId=1107160000000012345"

Sender ID Guidelines​

Do's​

  • Use a sender ID that clearly identifies your brand or organization.
  • Keep it short and memorable (maximum 6 characters).
  • Register multiple headers for different use cases (e.g., EXOTL for general, EXOOTP for OTPs).
  • Ensure the sender ID is linked to the correct DLT templates.

Don'ts​

  • Do not use generic or misleading sender IDs (e.g., INFORM, UPDATE).
  • Do not use government entity names unless authorized (e.g., GOVTIN).
  • Do not use another brand's name or trademark.
  • Do not use numbers in transactional sender IDs (alphabetic only).

Common Issues​

IssueCauseResolution
FAILED_INVALID_SENDERSender ID not registered or not approvedVerify the header is approved on your DLT portal and mapped in Exotel
Header rejection on DLTName conflicts with existing registrationsTry an alternative sender ID that is unique and brand-specific
SMS going to wrong operatorHeader registered on only one DLT portalRegister the header on all major DLT portals for full coverage
Template not linkedTemplate and header mismatchEnsure the template is registered under the same header on DLT
warning

A sender ID registered on one DLT portal (e.g., Jio) works across all operators due to inter-portal sharing. However, processing time for cross-operator visibility may take up to 7 days.

Multiple Sender IDs​

You can register multiple sender IDs for different purposes:

Sender IDPurposeExample Use
EXOTLGeneral notificationsAccount updates, alerts
EXOOTPOTP verificationLogin OTPs, transaction confirmations
EXOMKTMarketing (promotional)Offers, campaigns

Next Steps​