SMPP Router sits between your customers’ ESME binds and your upstream SMSCs. It routes MT by destination (country, prefix, operator context), delivers MO to the right account, and fails over weighted SMSC pools — up to 5,000 TPS.
It is on-premises Debian software for aggregators, messaging providers and operators who already run SMPP and need routing, policy and high availability without replacing their gateway. Optional HTTP hooks (ELI) apply your own logic; optional lookups enrich routing with NDC/MNC. Prometheus metrics are included. This is a backend routing engine, not a GUI-driven CPaaS portal.
Router, load balancer or gateway?
Pick the product that matches the job:
| SMPP Router | Load Balancer | SMPP SMS Gateway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job | Different routes, policy, lookup, MT/MO | Same bind spread across many backends | Full SMS gateway: accounts, portal, billing |
| You have | ESMEs and SMSCs already | Several SMSCs or gateway nodes | Need a complete platform |
| How to try | 30-day hosted trial, or install on Debian 12 | Hosted 30-day trial | Hosted cloud trial |
30-day full-feature trial
Try every feature (including CDRs, ELI and MSISDN lookup) for 30 days. We can host an instance for you if you do not have a Debian 12 server ready, or we can issue a trial license for your own host.
No Debian box? Choose the hosted trial. We set it up and you bind to it.
Features
Key features include:
- ESME SMPP service — Accepts client connections with per-account routing, throughput limits, and operational controls.
- Upstream SMSC connectivity — Connects to multiple SMSCs via configurable target groups with credentials, capacity, weighting, and high-availability options.
- Intelligent MT routing — Rules driven by destination analysis (e.g. country, prefix, operator context) plus global and per-account route tables; optional external logic can override the chosen route.
- MO routing to applications — Delivers mobile-originated traffic to the correct ESME account using configurable address and pattern matching.
- Load balancing — Distributes traffic across SMSCs in a target group according to weights and health, with failover when an upstream path cannot accept a submission.
- Bind and access control — Authenticates binds with credentials (including hashed passwords where configured) and optional source IP restrictions.
- External Logic Integration — HTTP hook points before lookup, after lookup, and after routing for policy, enrichment, and custom handling.
- Message and PDU shaping — Adjusts submission parameters and message content from external logic responses (addresses, encodings, protocol fields, and more).
- Policy-driven rejection — External logic can accept, modify, or reject submissions (including DLR-style outcomes where applicable).
- MSISDN / number lookup — Integrated lookups with caching and operational metrics; supports XConnect NPQ and other HTTP-based lookup services via configuration.
- Multipart and long SMS — Recognises segmented submissions and keeps all parts aligned to the same upstream path for consistent delivery.
- Observability — Prometheus-compatible metrics endpoint for monitoring and dashboards (including Grafana in your stack).
- Call detail records — Configurable CDR output for billing, reconciliation, and analytics.
- Management APIs — HTTP interfaces for operations, configuration, and integration workflows.
- SMSC simulation — Built-in path for lab and integration testing without a live SMSC.
Feature availability may vary by release version and license. CDRs, ELI and MSISDN lookup require a paid or trial license.
Articles, posts and tutorials
Technical articles on deploying, routing, authentication, load balancing and monitoring SMPP Router are on the community forum. 30-day trial licenses (all features) are available from the button above, or from sales@melroselabs.com.
Melrose Labs SMPP Router – Article Series
- Introduction to SMPP Router
An overview of the platform’s purpose, design philosophy, and deployment scenarios. - Deploying and Operating SMPP Router
Outlines the practical steps for installing, configuring, and operating SMPP Router. - Routing Mobile Originated (MO) SMS
How MO SMS is routed to customer ESMEs using session and PDU fields. - Routing Mobile Terminated (MT) SMS to SMSC Targets
Techniques for routing MT SMS using destination address, country code, NDC, and MNC. - Authenticating Customer ESME Binds
Optional authentication strategies for securing ESME connections. - MSISDN Lookup Integration
Using HTTP-based lookups to enrich routing logic. - Message Content Modification at Runtime
When and how to alter message payloads based on defined rules.
- Rejecting Messages Based on PDU Fields and Time Rules
Implementing conditional logic for traffic rejection. - Load Balancing for ESME-to-Target and Target-to-ESME Flows
Ensuring optimal distribution of messaging load. - Proxy and Multiplex Modes Explained
Deployment considerations and use cases for each mode. - Monitoring and Observability with Prometheus and Grafana
Metrics, dashboards, and operational insights. - Multipart Message Handling and Reassembly
Ensuring completeness and consistency in multi-part messaging. - Handling SubmitSMResp NAKs with Automatic Resubmission
Reliability features that enhance delivery success rates. - CDR Generation and Credit Control
Capturing detailed delivery records and enforcing usage policies. - Load Testing SMPP Router: Achieving 5000 TPS
Best practices for performance testing and benchmarking. - Routing Logic Configuration: NDC vs MNC and Operator Awareness
Choosing the right approach for accurate and efficient routing.
Read these articles in the SMPP Router section on the Melrose Labs Community Forum
Download
The Debian 12 build includes a perpetual 50 TPS license: MT/MO routing, load balancing, metrics, API and CLI. CDRs, ELI and MSISDN lookup are not included on the free license. Production billing typically needs CDRs; number-based operator routing typically needs lookup.
Request the package with your email (so we can follow up on trial and paid licenses). After you submit, the download link is shown immediately.
Debian 12 - 64-bit (x86)
Perpetual license with 50 TPS limit (free)
Need CDRs, ELI, lookup or more than 50 TPS? Request a 30-day full trial instead.
Installation
Option 1: Automated Installation
Run the following command on your Debian 12 server. It will update the system, install required dependencies,
download the latest version of SMPP Router, install it as a systemd service, and start it:
sudo apt update && \
sudo apt install -y tar apache2-utils jq && \
mkdir -p smpprouter && \
cd smpprouter && \
wget https://melroselabs.com/repo/smpprouter/opMLSMPPRouter_latest.tar.gz && \
tar -xzf opMLSMPPRouter_latest.tar.gz && \
sudo ./install.sh
Option 2: Manual Installation
Alternatively, you may download the SMPP Router package and install it manually, configuring it according to your requirements
and operating using tools such as systemd, screen, or tmux.
Documentation
Documentation can be found at the following link: SMPP Router documentation
Pricing
On-premises perpetual licenses. Prices from 4 April 2026. The free 50 TPS package does not include CDRs, ELI or MSISDN lookup. To buy a base package, TPS upgrade or add-on, request a payment link (we will email it) or contact sales@melroselabs.com.
Free package
50 TPS: MT/MO SMS, load balancing, routing, metrics, API and CLI. No CDRs, ELI or lookup. Support not included.
100 TPS package
100 TPS limit, MT/MO SMS, load balancing, routing, metrics, API and CLI. First instance GBP 2,500; each additional instance GBP 1,500.
500 TPS package
500 TPS limit, MT/MO SMS, load balancing, routing, metrics, API and CLI. First instance GBP 3,500; each additional instance GBP 2,500.
Optional features and TPS upgrades
| Item | Per instance |
|---|---|
| External Logic Integration (ELI) | GBP 500 |
| CDRs (call detail records) | GBP 500 |
| MSISDN lookup | GBP 500 |
| 100 TPS → 500 TPS | GBP 1,000 |
| 500 TPS → 1,000 TPS | GBP 500 |
| 1,000 TPS → 2,000 TPS | GBP 500 |
| 2,000 TPS → 3,000 TPS | GBP 250 |
| 3,000 TPS → 4,000 TPS | GBP 250 |
| 4,000 TPS → 5,000 TPS | GBP 250 |
Price list also on the community forum.
Support
Support is available for purchased licenses at GBP 525 per year (covers all instances). Purchased base package licenses include one year of support. Platform updates and 8x5 technical support. Enhanced hours on request.
Support details can be found at the following link: Support
To add support for your existing 50 TPS SMPP Router instance(s): Purchase Annual Support