aql's SMS Service Plays Key Role in Snow Impact Management
LEEDS, England, January 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
aql, the Leeds based telecommunications operator who are one of the UK's major
suppliers of mobile messaging services to schools and transport communications software
providers, are handling unsurpassed volumes of SMS text messages as snow continues to
blanket the UK.
Due to predicted adverse weather conditions aql have been working proactively over the
past few weeks to ensure that their network remains fully operational during this period.
Despite the huge number of schools affected by snow and ice, aql's SMS services are
handling the unprecedented volumes with ease.
aql are a wholesale SMS service provider and deliver these services to the specialist
software companies who build customer facing SMS communication systems, such as those
services facilitating school to parent communications. aql's resilient fault-tolerant SMS
service has helped its partners to minimise the impact on travellers via SMS by keeping
parents informed of school closures and bus service issues, while also notifying engineers
of maintenance work required on the national transport infrastructure.
As a critical messaging operator, the company is working tirelessly to ensure that
their systems remain operational as snow and sleet is set to continue to fall throughout
the coming week, with sub-zero temperatures overnight meaning icy conditions are set to
cause further risks as the week goes on.
Dr Adam Beaumont, CEO and founder of aql, stated, "We've always been very aware of our
position of responsibility to 'UK Plc' in times of adverse weather. Not only have we seen
unprecedented throughput of millions of messages related to school and travel impact, but
also, aql work with the leading providers of two-factor authentication via SMS, which
allows affected companies to be able to log on and work securely from home."
He continued, "Although our systems can handle huge throughput with ease, the biggest
challenge we have is making sure that we do not overload the mobile networks themselves,
so we work proactively with the main operators to help to ensure the end users get the
best experience possible."
aql's engineers actively monitor SMS throughput 24 hours a day, seven days a week to
ensure fast delivery of messages so that end users are kept informed of situations as they
happen and are able to plan accordingly.
aql have been operating high capacity, secure, reliable SMS messaging services since
1998 and were the key provider of SMS communications services for national critical
infrastructure operators during the '7/7' bombings of 2005. aql are specialists in this
field, sending millions of SMS messages via their network every day for business customers
and public information clients, including over 35 of the FTSE 100.
The sheer number of text messages sent by aql is made possible through their
distributed network spanning four UK cities, including their independent data centres
based in Leeds. This infrastructure has enabled the company to establish themselves as a
key wholesale provider of global SMS mobile text messaging services.
Notes to Editor:
Any mention of aql should be used in lowercase letters as it is a trademarked name and
device of (aq) ltd.
aql is a UK regulated telecommunications and datacentre operator based in the centre
of Leeds. Established in 1998, aql specialise in providing a wide range of innovative
wholesale telecommunications solutions including mobile SMS text messaging and IP
telephony.