---
title: What Is SMPP?
description: "**SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer)** is the industry-standard protocol telecom operators and SMS gateway providers use to exchange SMS traffic over a persistent TCP/IP connection. Unlike an HTTP API, which sends one request per message, an SMPP connection stays open and can…"
url: "https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/what-is-smpp/"
updated: "2026-09-10"
category: Bulk SMS / SMPP
---

# What Is SMPP?

**SMPP (Short Message Peer-to-Peer)** is the industry-standard protocol telecom operators and SMS gateway providers use to exchange SMS traffic over a persistent TCP/IP connection. Unlike an HTTP API, which sends one request per message, an SMPP connection stays open and can push thousands of messages per second in both directions, making it the standard choice for high-volume senders, aggregators, and telecom-grade integrations.

### More Related Articles

- [Can I use SMPP with third-party tools like vTiger?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/can-i-use-smpp-with-third-party-tools-like-vtiger/)
- [Why do I get a “Connection Timed Out” error with SMPP?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/why-do-i-get-a-connection-timed-out-error-with-smpp/)
- [What’s the throughput limit for SMPP connections?](https://www.smsgatewaycenter.com/blog/kb/whats-the-throughput-limit-for-smpp-connections/)

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