SMS IWF

SMS is a popular service that allows users to send and receive short text messages on their mobile devices. In 5G networks, there are two basic methods to transport SMS: SMS-over-NAS (SMSoNAS) and SMS-over-IP (SMSoIP).

SMSoNAS uses Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling to deliver SMS messages between the user device and the SMS Function (SMSF) in the 5G Core (5GC). SMSoNAS is defined in 3GPP TS 23.501 and can be used when the device is connected to either 5G or 4G networks. SMSoNAS is recommended for devices that do not support voice services over IMS or for data-only devices.

SMSoIP uses IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to deliver SMS messages over IP using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) messages. SMSoIP is defined in 3GPP TS 24.341 and can be used when the device is connected to IMS, either over 5G or 4G networks. SMSoIP can be deployed simultaneously with voice services over IMS to provide both voice and SMS services.

The choice of SMSoNAS or SMSoIP depends on several factors, such as the device capabilities, the network architecture, the service requirements, and the operator preferences. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages in terms of complexity, performance, interoperability, and roaming. Operators need to carefully evaluate their options and plan their migration strategy from EPS to 5GS accordingly.

External Short Messages Entities (ESMEs) are applications or systems that can send and receive short messages to and from a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) using the Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocol. ESMEs can provide various benefits for businesses, such as:

• Enhancing customer engagement and loyalty by sending personalized, timely and relevant messages to customers via SMS, such as appointment reminders, order confirmations, delivery notifications, feedback requests, etc.
• Improving operational efficiency and productivity by automating workflows and processes that involve SMS communication, such as sending alerts, confirmations, reports, etc. to employees, partners or suppliers.
• Increasing revenue and profitability by leveraging SMS as a marketing channel to promote products, services, offers, discounts, etc. to potential or existing customers, or as a payment channel to enable customers to pay for goods or services via SMS.
• Reducing costs and risks by using SMS as a reliable and secure communication channel that can reach customers or stakeholders in any location, at any time, and with minimal infrastructure requirements.

ESMEs can help businesses achieve their goals and objectives by providing a simple, fast and effective way to communicate with their target audiences via SMS. ESMEs can also integrate with other applications or systems to enable seamless data exchange and interoperability. Therefore, ESMEs can offer significant business value for various industries and sectors that rely on SMS communication.