Dear Customers,

We are writing to inform you of an urgent update mandated by TRAI w.r.t TCCCPR 2018. This directive requires immediate action to prevent the use of fraudulent CTAs - URLs/ APKs/ OTT Links/ Call back numbers - in customer communications.

1. Action Required: Ensure that all CTAs - URLs/ APKs/ OTT Links/ used in your customer messages are whitelisted on the DLT portal before sending them
2. Whitelisting Deadline: 30th September 2024
3. Any message containing non-whitelisted or unapproved CTAs will be BLOCKED by all Access Service Providers during DLT scrubbing
4. Under 1^st phase of whitelisting Call back number & Email are exempted for scrubbing hence there is no impact if not updated.

Types of URLs for Whitelisting: URLs to be whitelisted are categorized as -

1. Static URLs  
2. Dynamic URLs  
3. Short URLs  
4. Social (OTT) Links  
5. APK/IPA Links

Please follow the key guidelines regarding the whitelisting of URLs, APKs, and OTT links:

1. Static URLs: 
   1. A static URL must start with 'http://' or 'https://' or 'www'
   2. Example: https://www.company.com/products
   3. Note:
      1. If the entered static URL is redirecting to another URL, it will be rejected during the approval process.
      2. Messages will fail during scrubbing if the whitelisted URL does not exactly match.
2. Dynamic URLs:  
   1. Long Dynamic URL must start with 'http://' or 'https://' or 'www'
   2. Enter only the fixed part of the dynamic URL and end with query parameter ('?')
   3. Example: https://www.company.com/products?src=web | In this example, 'https://www.company.com/products?' must be whitelisted.
   4. Note: 
      1. If the entered dynamic URL is redirecting to another URL, it will be rejected during the approval process.
      2. Messages will fail during scrubbing if the fixed part of the whitelisted long URL does not match.
3. Short URLs:  
   1. According to TRAI guidelines dated 18.06.2024, short URLs must clearly indicate an association with the sender. The following format must be followed to fulfil TRAI's requirements.
      1. Short URL must start with 'http://' or 'https://'
      2. Enter only the fixed part of the short URL, followed by the header, and end with '/'.
      3. Example:  Short URL: https://bit.ly/ABCDBK/xxxxxx | In this example, ‘https://bit.ly/ABCDBK/’ must be whitelisted
      4. Only Alpha/Alphanumeric headers will be allowed for short URLs
   2. Note: If any of the headers, linked to whitelisted short URLs, are moved to free pool, all associated short URLs will be blacklisted, and any SMS using those short URLs will fail.
4.  Social (OTT) Links:  
   1. Enter a valid social media URL starting with 'http://' or 'https://' or 'www' 
   2. Example: https://instagram.com/company
   3. Note
      1. If the entered social URL is redirecting to another URL, it will be rejected during the approval process.
      2. Note: Messages will fail during scrubbing if the whitelisted URL does not exactly match.
5. APK/IPA Links:  
   1. A valid APK/IPA URL should start with 'http://' or 'https://' or 'www'
   2. It must end with '.apk' for Android apps or '.ipa' for iOS apps. 
   3. Examples:
      1. Android: https://www.company.com/app/appname.apk
      2. iOS: https://www.company.com/app/appname.ipa
   4. Note:
      1. If the entered apk/ipa URL is redirecting to another URL, it will be rejected during the approval process.
      2. Note:Messages will fail during scrubbing if the whitelisted URL does not exactly match
6. IMPORTANT:
   1. Responsibility of PEs/Senders: PEs/Senders are solely responsible for ensuring the authenticity of all URLs, APKs, OTT links, and short URLs they whitelist on the TSPs portal. Liability for any issues arising from these whitelisted links rests with the PEs.
   2. All URLs included in the SMS content, whether fixed or variable, must be pre-whitelisted in the URL whitelisting module.
   3. Any URL that redirects to another URL must be registered and whitelisted as a short URL.
       

Please ensure compliance with these guidelines by 30th September 2024 to avoid any disruption in SMS delivery.

Team - Leadofy
[email protected]
M- 8506009898