World Telecom Labs said it has helped Algerian operator Icosnet to roll out an Application to Person (A2P) SMS service that will primarily be used by domestic and international companies who want to communicate directly with their customers across the country. Icosnet’s new SMS service will run over the existing WTL platform that was developed to support both VoIP and SMS services. This will enable enterprises and government agencies to communicate with their customers using text messaging.
A simple IP interface connects the company to the Icosnet WTL platform and from here all the switching and routing of messages to the right operator is handled in an efficient, cost-effective way ensuring the best possible delivery success. The WTL platform also means that Icosnet can accurately bill its clients for the number of text messages sent. Algeria has a well-developed telecoms infrastructure and its oil and gas industries have made it one of the wealthiest countries in Africa.
Despite the increasing popularity of IP messaging services, SMS is still widely used across the country with the main operators offering bundled packages which include text sending and receipt. Businesses in Algeria are increasingly turning to SMS to interact with and inform their customers as it has a greater chance of being successfully received and read than email – and, of course, is far cheaper than print promotions.
Established in 1999, Icosnet was one of the first companies to emerge after the liberalisation of the telecom market in Algeria. Since then it has been providing data and voice services to businesses of all sizes. Initially WTL helped Icosnet establish its service quickly and cost-effectively through the provision of SS7 signaling gateways. These enable traffic to transfer between Icosnet’s IP networks and the existing networks in Algeria. As Icosnet’s business expanded and evolved, WTL provided a variety of equipment including its VoIP switches.
Source: https://www.telecompaper.com/news/world-telecom-labs-helps-icosnet-roll-out-a2p--1203761