ICSS and Telefonica link A2P messaging hubs

Telefonica Business Solutions and Deutsche Telekom’s International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) have reached an agreement to directly connect their respective wholesale Application-to-Person (A2P) mobile messaging hubs at “Messaging and SMS World” event held in London this week.

This new service will be especially beneficial for companies with large, worldwide customer bases wanting to take advantage of high-quality SMS transmission over worldwide networks. Furthermore, it will provide customers of both companies with extended coverage through direct routes while improving quality and reducing fraudulent activity.

With A2P SMS traffic showing an explosive increase over the past months, the consolidation of traffic is meant to enable greater efficiency of global message exchange. A single connection to a centralized hub also offers a quick way to gain fast access to a wide variety of markets, through the footprints of both organizations. In addition, one entry point eliminates the need to establish two contracts and two interconnects.

Businesses that have been driving the exponential expansion in A2P messaging are often those seeing growth rates themselves. These are companies that regularly send large volumes of A2P SMS to their end users, such as social media sites, content providers and OTT players with free messaging apps. Other more traditional areas include international banks sending payment verifications and airlines with up-to-the-minute messaging needs.