Why you can't send thousands of SMS messages at once

Sending thousands of SMS messages simultaneously from a personal phone is not possible due to the potential for widespread misuse, according to "Bitė Lietuva." Such capabilities could enable scammers to distribute false information, launch fraud campaigns, or even incite public panic.

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If any person could send hundreds of thousands of SMS messages in seconds from their phone, the consequences could be very serious. Imagine a false message about a supposed state institution warning, a bank security incident, or another emergency situation. Reaching a large audience, such information could even cause public panic.

To prevent these risks, mass SMS distribution is managed through dedicated and controlled systems. Modestas Ropė, "Bitė Lietuva's" director of next-generation networks, explained that allowing individuals to send hundreds of thousands of SMS messages instantly could have severe consequences. False alerts about government warnings, bank security incidents, or other emergencies could cause widespread panic.

Organizations needing to reach many people at once utilize a "Bulk SMS" service instead of standard phone functions. This service allows for sending large volumes of messages, receiving replies, scheduling dispatches, and displaying a company name as the sender. "Bitė Lietuva" sets individual sending limits based on client needs. Banks, healthcare providers, government agencies, and retailers commonly use this service for authentication codes, shipment notifications, appointment reminders, and other urgent information.

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This service is for organizations that need to reach many people quickly and reliably. Banks, medical facilities, state institutions, courier services, retail chains, and other companies use it. Authentication codes, shipment notifications, appointment reminders, or other important information that must reach the recipient immediately are most commonly sent.

While telecom companies do not read SMS content, they monitor sending patterns. Unusual activity, such as a high volume of messages sent from a single number with few replies, can indicate spam or fraudulent attempts. "Bitė's" automated systems identify abnormal SMS traffic to prevent abuse and ensure mass SMS services are used legally.

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If SMS messages are constantly sent from the same phone number, but almost no replies are received, it is no longer normal communication. Such activity may indicate sending advertising content or even an attempt to defraud. Since we cannot analyze SMS content, we assess the risk precisely based on sending patterns – sending intensity, number of recipients, and other technical indicators.