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.