# What is an SMS gateway?

> An SMS gateway is the system that connects applications to mobile networks so software can send and receive SMS — translating an API or SMPP request into the operator protocols that deliver a message to a handset, and passing delivery receipts and inbound messages back. It abstracts the SMSC connections, routing, and signalling so you integrate once instead of connecting to every operator yourself.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-a-sms-gateway
- Language: en
- Last reviewed: 2026-07-22
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

## What it does

It accepts messages over REST or SMPP, routes each to the right operator via the appropriate interconnect, handles encoding and sender IDs, and returns delivery receipts and inbound messages. See /answers/what-is-sms-api and /answers/what-is-smsc.

## Gateway vs aggregator vs CPaaS

The terms overlap: a gateway is the technical connection layer; an aggregator resells operator connectivity wholesale; a CPaaS adds developer APIs and more channels on top. Most modern providers are all three. See /answers/what-is-cpaas.

## What makes one good

Direct operator routes, real-time operator-level delivery receipts, high throughput over SMPP, sender-ID and compliance support, and an uptime SLA with failover. See /answers/how-to-choose-sms-provider and /answers/what-is-route-failover.

## Related

- [All answers](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [Glossary](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [What is an SMS API?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-sms-api)
- [SMSC vs SMS gateway — what's the difference?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/smsc-vs-sms-gateway)
- [What is an SMSC?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-smsc)
- [What is CPaaS?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-cpaas)
- [How do I choose an SMS provider?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/how-to-choose-sms-provider)
- [SMS API](https://www.broadnet.me/products/sms-api)
- [SMPP integration](https://www.broadnet.me/developers/smpp)