What is SMS?

-SMS stands for Short Message Service.

-A standard text message has a maximum length of 160 characters, which includes
spaces and punctuations.
-Users can send text through SMS to other users or application or get SMS from
applications. Phone users send messages to short codes to gain a variety of
contents.
-Short code is a variable number normally of 4 to 6 digits used to send text
messages to a receiver.

Types of SMS
-Based on source and destination, there are various types of SMS. Namely
1. Person-to-Person (P2P)
-Mobile to Mobile SMS is used mostly for personal interaction with family, friends
and co-workers.
2. Application-to-Person (A2P)/Mobile Terminated (MT)
-SMSs are generated by applications to interact with customer. We get Auto
Generated Messages from Operators, Banks etc.
3. Person-to-Application (P2A)/ Mobile Originated (MO)
-When consumer wants some information or wants to participate in some activities,
she/he sends SMS to a short code which in turn replies back automatically.
For example, if you want to know your bank balance using SMS, you have to send
one SMS on particular number with prescribed format and in return you get answer
from SMS application hosted in bank with your bank balance details. You can also
participate in Voting, Lucky Draw, Opt-In Competitions, Text-To-Win, etc. by sending
SMS

How SMS is sent?

Users SMS is transmitted via an SMSC (Short Messaging Service Center) The most widely
used technology for transmission and reception of SMS is GSM. In general, a mobile operator
owns one (or many) SMSC(s), but it is also possible for 3rd parties to operate their own SMSC
that is connected to a mobile operators network.
Different SMS Scenario
1. P2P SMS

Sender composes the SMS text using the handset (here Mobile Handset is known as SME
Short Message Entity.) and then sends to the other persons (intended receiver) MSISDN(Mobile
No). Receiver receives the SMS s/he can see the senders MSISDN in the senders (from field)

information section. User experience is more or less like this (we are not considering the fail
cases). Now, let us take a look at one step details inside operators network.

When Sender sends an SMS the message is submitted to the SMSC. SMSC then analyzes the
source (sender) and destination (receiver) numbers. If both source and destination numbers are
valid then SMSC sends (often described as forwards) the message to the receiver. If the
receiver is unreachable then SMSC keeps the message for a certain time period and retries to
deliver the message. There is a maximum limit for the number of SMS to be held in Queue for
retry and also a limit for maximum time to retry (often 24 hours).
Delivery Receipt
Based on request by Sender, Receiver handset issues a delivery receipt which is again submitted to SMSC
from the receiver. SMSC delivers the delivery receipt to the sender following its regular process.
Sometimes, delivery receipts are issued by intermediary systems instead of final destination device. Those
are more advanced topics and are out of scope of this document.
P2A SMS

Sender composes the SMS text using the handset, sends to a short code and gets some replies
automatically from Application. Applications are ESME External Short Message Entity, any
application which can either receive or send or both is an ESME. Normally there are some
prescribed SMS formats to get content from Applications. Depending on that SMS format, there
are specific contents delivered by Application. Users get reply message if s/he sends wrong SMS
format.
When Sender sends an SMS the message is submitted to the SMSC. SMSC then analyzes the
source (sender) and destination numbers. If both source and destination numbers are valid then
SMSC sends (often described as forwards) the message to the receiver. Based on the SMS text,
the application sends reply message to the senders MSISDN. This reply message is forwarded to
sender via SMSC.
SMPP Protocol

There are many technologies and protocols that can be used to send and receive SMS from an
application. These types of messages are normally sent over Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP)
protocol. SMPP protocol is used to exchange the SMS between SMSC and external entities like
business applications. SMPP is an application layer protocol to send messages over TCP/IP
connection.
SMPP protocol defines

A set of operations for the exchange of short messages between an ESME

and an SMSC

The data that an ESME application must exchange with an SMSC during SMPP
operations

The ESME first establishes a network connection with the SMSC, then issues an SMPP bind
request to open an SMPP operation for sending and/or receiving messages.
A2P SMS

Auto generated SMS from Application to person. Messages can be sent to one/more person(s).
In CRM terms, A2P messaging serves as a dynamic service tool, for instance, updating
subscribers on progress of their service delivery. Companies are now also using it as an
information service platform in its own right.
Like P2A SMS, Application (ESME) establishes network connection with the SMSC through
SMPP protocol and send messages to end User.
Challenges for Operators with Increasing Demand for P2A and A2P SMS
Demand for P2A and A2P SMS is increasing day by day. Different applications are coming in
place. All applications need to be connected to SMSC, exchange messages between SMSC and
applications. If all applications need to directly communicate with SMSC, there will be More
Licensing Cost at SMSC. Because of many applications, management difficulty is there. There is
a possibility of exposure to security threats since many connections need to be opened and
failure scenario may be high.
SMS Gateway
-All Applications can connect to SMS Gateway (SMS GW). SMS Gateway connects to
SMSC. So, Licensing Cost at SMSC will be reduced and security will be higher. Also,
management is simpler and high availability can be ensured on both gateways.
-SMS Gateway communicates with SMSC through SMPP Protocol and application
through http/SMPP/ Database push. So, from user to application, application to user
and user to user all connecting nodes are like
-SMSGW sends SMS through HTTP to application and receives SMS through HTTP
from application.
-TPS of SMSGW is the main selling factor. The quicker SMSGW sends/receives
messages to SMSC and Applications; the smoother will be the service delivery.
-Some information (ID, password and system type) are required connection with
SMSC via SMPP from SMSGW. Depending on system, some more information may be
required.

Charging P2A and A2P SMS Services

Charging SMS based service is often a very critical concern. The concern lies in charging, not
charging and selective charging for services provided by different applications. The charging
process needs to be aligned with general SMS Charging Flow.

General SMS Charging Flow

When user sends SMS, it will first come to SMSC. When SMS request comes to SMSC (MO), it will
charge IN for Prepaid Users and generate CDR for Postpaid Users.

Charging for Application Services (P2A and A2P SMS)

-Regarding charging, SMSC can do P2A/MO charging; normally A2P/MT charging is
not much available at SMSC. SMSGW can do MT charging by using Charging
Gateway.

General Considerations for SMS based Services

Regarding SMS based services; some general considerations need to be thought about. In an
SMS based system, sent/received SMSs are kept in Database for record. Number of SMSs
received/sent and retention period are major points to decide otherwise the data volume will be
high and transaction will be slower. SMS per second is another major point in an SMS based
service.