LONDON -- AKTEL, one of the leading mobile operators in Bangladesh, has signed a deal with carrier-grade SMS service provider TynTec to deploy its International Messaging Transit (IMT) SMS hubbing technology. Under the deal AKTEL will use TynTec's IMT to extend its SMS reach further into Europe and the US without the need to sign extra roaming agreements.

IMT leverages TynTec's portfolio of carrier partnerships to give third party network operators the ability to offer two-way SMS reach into up to 360 networks in 145 countries. Mobile operator's SMS reach has traditionally been limited by the cost and complexity of signing multiple, individual SMS connectivity agreements. IMT, as an SMS hubbing technology, replaces these individual relationships with one point of contact that in turn connects to a range of other operators. As well as removing the need to form and manage potentially hundreds of individual connectivity agreements, IMT also gives subscribing operators a single point of legal, technical and commercial contact over a large swathe of its connectivity portfolio.

TynTec has access to 360 networks in 145 countries through its portfolio of SS7 access agreements with operators around the world. This means that operators looking to extend their SMS reach can choose the networks from TynTec's portfolio that complement their existing range of agreements and can sign up multiple connectivity partnerships through a single deal.

Mr. Ahmad Ismail, Managing Director of AKTEL, said: "The IMT product solves a problem that all operators face - how to extend your SMS reach globally without the need for hundreds of time consuming bilateral agreements. Using IMT we can instantly build a considerable SMS reach through a single point of contact with no need to speak to every operator individually.

"This deal means that our customers now have a far greater range of SMS communications possibilities and that clearly opens up a whole new area of potential data revenue growth."

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