Learn about SMS Hubbing

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Why SMS Hubbing?

Every operator has the need to establish roaming agreements in order to provide subscribers with the possibility to roam outside their home network. The overall cost of establishing bi-lateral relationships is preventing some operators from opening new roaming and Inter-working agreements. With the introduction of more new services the problem will become more evident and the overall costs greater. This is a particular concern for the newer GSM networks, those networks that are late entries into the market and finding it difficult to set-up roaming relations with the more established operators. At the same time, the problem is arising for many established operators who already have voice roaming open but are facing low return on investment for new 2.5/3G roaming relationships and SMS Inter-working ventures.

SMS Hubbing allows operators to significantly expand  the reach of their SMS services by simplifying the interworking arrangements between operators. In addition to the benefits of expanding SMS coverage to new destinations, SMS hubbing offers increased operational efficiencies and financial savings by removing the need for time consuming bilateral relationships.

The GSM Association (GSMA) found in SMS Hubbing the solution to a problem that limits the continuing growth of international SMS, culminating to the development of the SMS Hubbing trials in 2006, part of the Open Connectivity project. This initiative created a new structure for international SMS interoperability, as well as developed standards and requirements that SMS hubs should follow.

GSMA’s OC initiative has established a framework for hub-based solutions, where one or more hubs provide access to multiple partners via a single commercial agreement. This multilateral approach is documented in a suite of GSMA documentation that defines the requirements for Open Connectivity compliant solutions.

- by GSMA

Benefits for operator:

• Simplify SMS routing by enabling seamless transport of both bilateral and SMS hub traffic with one connectivity
• Significantly improve subscribers’ international SMS reach
• Optimize cost savings on SMS termination between hub-based and bilateral destinations

Hubbing Architecture

Bi-lateral SMS Call Flow

 

Bi-lateral SMS Call Flow

The above diagram shows the current technical connectivity architecture that is used between operators operating with MAP protocol over SS7.

Call Flow definition

• Subscriber generates SM. SMSC receives SM-MO and consults routing tables to define which HLR to request route from.
• SMSC sends an SRI-SM to MNO2 HLR.
• MNO2 HLR responds with MSC/VLR location of subscriber for delivery of SM-MT.
• SMSC delivers SM-MT to subscriber via specified MSC/VLR.

Hubbing SMS Call Flow

Hubbing SMS Call Flow

The above diagram shows the Bilateral technical connectivity architecture that is used between between MNO1 and MNO2.

Call Flow definition

• Subscriber generates SM. SMSC receives SM-MO and consults routing tables to define which HLR to request route from.
• SMSC sends an SRI-SM to the vHLR located on the hub.
• The hub modifies addressing information in a way that keeps MAP and SCCP addresses consistent. The SRI request is then cascaded to the terminating operator (it could also be routed to a second hub).
• The terminating operator receives the request from the hub and returns an error message or the necessary routing information (MSC location of the terminating subscriber).
• The hub manipulates the address information replacing the terminating Client Operator’s MAP and SCCP address information with its own and forwards the error message or routing info back to the originating Client

SMS Hub Providers

AICENT
AMD Telecom
ANIMA
Belgacom
CITIC
Global Message Service
Global SMSC
iBasis
MACH
Monty Mobile
Orange
Sybase 365
Syniverse
Telekom Austria
Sparkle
Tyntec
VeriSign
telenor
infoBip

Ref :
GSMA OPEN CONNECTIVTY SMS HUBBING ARCHITECTURE