# SMS route

> An SMS route is the path a message takes from the gateway to the destination operator, through a given carrier or aggregator connection; routes differ in delivery rate, sender fidelity, receipts and price.

For any destination a gateway can usually choose among several connections. A route is defined by who terminates the traffic and on what terms: a direct operator connection, a national aggregator, an international wholesaler. Each has a measurable delivery rate, a latency, a way of handling sender IDs and receipts, and a wholesale price.

Providers that sell "premium" and "standard" tiers are selling two routes at two prices. A provider with one route per destination has chosen for you, and the question is on what basis.

At SMSMeteor: one route per destination, chosen on measured delivery rate and reviewed daily; the published rate does not change mid-campaign when the route does.

Related terms: [Direct carrier route](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/direct-route), [Grey route](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/grey-route), [SMS aggregator](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/sms-aggregator), [Delivery rate](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/delivery-rate)

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Source: https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/sms-route (HTML). Generated by SMSMeteor from the same data as the page. Summary of the whole site: https://smsmeteor.com/llms.txt