Sender ID

What is a Sender ID?

A Sender ID is the alphanumeric name, typically 6 characters, that appears as the sender on an SMS message instead of a phone number, such as “EXOTEL” or “HDFCBK.” It’s how recipients recognize which business is texting them without needing to save a number as a contact first.

Why businesses use alphanumeric Sender IDs

A message from “AIRINDIA” is immediately recognizable and trustworthy in a way a message from an unfamiliar ten-digit number simply isn’t. Alphanumeric Sender IDs also help prevent impersonation to a degree, since they must be registered and linked to a specific verified business, making it harder, though not impossible, for a fraudster to send a message that appears to come from a legitimate registered brand.

How Sender ID registration works in India

• Registration on DLT: the business registers as a Principal Entity and applies for a specific Sender ID through the Distributed Ledger Technology platform.
• Linking to templates: each approved Sender ID is tied to specific approved message templates, so a registered ID can’t be used to send arbitrary, unapproved content.
• Category alignment: a Sender ID and its associated templates are registered as either transactional or promotional, and traffic must match that declared category.

Use cases

• Brand recognition: ensuring customers immediately recognize who a message is from, improving open and trust rates.
• Fraud reduction: registered Sender IDs make it harder for scammers to convincingly spoof a well-known brand’s messages.
• Regulatory compliance: using an unregistered or generic Sender ID for bulk messaging generally isn’t permitted under TRAI’s rules.

Benefits

• Higher trust and open rates: a recognizable brand name outperforms an unfamiliar number.
• Reduced impersonation risk: registration ties the Sender ID to a verified, accountable business.
• Consistent brand presence: customers see the same identifiable sender across every message, regardless of which backend number actually sent it.