Skip links
Meet on Teams
Let's work
SMPP SMS Gateway
Published in: SMPP

Getting Started with SMPP Protocol: A Developer’s Guide to Building SMS Applications

Author
Published on:

What is SMPP?

SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer) is an open, industry-standard protocol used by the telecom industry to exchange SMS messages between Short Message Service Centers (SMSCs) and external entities such as ESMEs (External Short Messaging Entities). In simpler terms, SMPP is the protocol behind sending and receiving SMS messages through an SMS gateway.

 

If you’re building bulk SMS applications, two-factor authentication systems, or alerting platforms, SMPP is often the go-to method due to its reliability and speed.

How SMPP Works

SMPP works over TCP and uses PDUs (Protocol Data Units) to communicate between the client (ESME) and the SMSC. A few commonly used commands:

 

  • bind_transmitter – to send messages

  • bind_receiver – to receive messages (e.g., delivery receipts)

  • bind_transceiver – to both send and receive

  • submit_sm – used to submit an SMS

  • deliver_sm – used by SMSC to deliver SMS or delivery receipt

SMPP in Action: Setting Up a Simple SMPP Client in Python

We’ll use the popular smpp.pdu and python-smpp libraries for demonstration. You’ll need an SMPP account (test or production) from a provider like Twilio, Infobip, or a local SMS gateway.

🧰 Requirements

bash
pip install smpplib

🧑‍💻 Basic SMPP Client Example

 

python
 
import smpplib.client
import smpplib.consts
import smpplib.gsm

# Connect to SMSC
client = smpplib.client.Client(‘smpp.example.com’, 2775)

client.connect()
client.bind_transmitter(system_id=‘your_username’, password=‘your_password’)

# Send SMS
pdu = client.send_message(
source_addr_ton=smpplib.consts.SMPP_TON_ALNUM,
source_addr=‘MyCompany’,
dest_addr_ton=smpplib.consts.SMPP_TON_INTERNATIONAL,
destination_addr=‘905551234567’,
short_message=‘Hello from SMPP!’,
)

print(f’Message ID: {pdu.message_id}‘)

client.unbind()

Things to Keep in Mind

 

  • SMPP is binary-based; debugging is harder than HTTP.

  • Delivery reports (DLRs) require you to implement a deliver_sm handler.

  • Timeouts and throttling must be handled carefully.

  • Some providers may require enquire_link messages to keep the connection alive.

Best Practices

 

  • Always monitor bind/unbind sessions.

  • Log PDU responses for error tracing.

  • Use retry queues in case of throttling or connection drops.

  • Implement connection pooling for high-volume systems.

Conclusion

SMPP is the backbone of serious SMS delivery systems. Although more complex than REST APIs, it offers greater performance, lower latency, and better delivery guarantees. If you’re building SMS-heavy applications, learning SMPP will be well worth the effort.

 

If you’re ready to take your SMS platform to the next level, SMPP might be the protocol you’re looking for.

You may also like

1 gün ago

Enterprise Messaging Reinvented with SMPP API and Global Aggregators

For modern enterprises, customer communication is no longer limited to local markets. Companies need global messaging systems that are reliable, secure, and capable of handling massive volumes of traffic. This is where SMPP and SMPP SMS gateway solutions come into play, offering a professional-grade infrastructure for enterprises worldwide.

1 hafta ago

Enterprise Messaging Reinvented with SMPP API and SMS Aggregators

As enterprises expand globally, the demand for reliable and secure communication platforms has never been higher. Businesses need a messaging infrastructure that can handle millions of interactions per day without compromising on speed or deliverability. This is where the SMPP SMS gateway becomes an essential tool for organizations of all sizes.

Leave a comment