BICS Launches Roaming SMS Translator to Support 2G and 3G Shutdowns

Telcos globally are sunsetting or shutting down 2G or 3G networks. In such a scenario, mobile digital communications company BICS has launched a new solution to support international SMS on more advanced networks no longer supporting 2G or 3G technologies. According to BICS, the solution supports carriers who don’t support or have retired their legacy 2G and 3G networks from excluding inbound roamers from networks using older SMS protocols.

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Legacy Network Transition

The solution means travelers and devices coming from mobile networks still using 2G and 3G messaging technologies won’t lose the service while roaming abroad, even if local operators don’t support 2G or 3G.

Operators around the world are phasing out legacy or old networks for 4G and 5G networks. However, the telecom market is evolving at different rates around the world, and not all telcos are following a similar approach, BICS says. For example, 3G is the dominant mobile technology in Sub-Saharan Africa.

As TelecomTalk reports, most operators across the globe are phasing out 2G and 3G networks and reallocating the spectrum resources to expand and enhance 4G and 5G networks. While some operators have announced 2G and 3G phaseout plans, some operators are still continuing 2G and have longer phase-out plans, supporting SMS and voice calling.

Addressing Roaming Challenges

BICS explained that apart from preventing a Roaming Gap that leaves unconnected and operators unable to monetise certain types of roaming traffic, another key issue from network SMS incompatibility is ‘Welcome SMS’. Roamers will miss the important welcome communications messages and emergency information.