# "How to Connect Kannel SMS Gateway to On-Chat"

> "On-Chat integrates with Kannel SMS Gateway so your team can receive and respond to inbound SMS messages from customers in one collaborative inbox with routing, canned responses, and automation."

URL: https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-connect-kannel-sms-gateway-to-on-chat/
Last updated: 2026-11-14

## Introduction
Kannel is a free, open-source WAP and SMS gateway widely used by telecom operators and enterprises for high-throughput SMS messaging. It supports SMPP, HTTP, and other protocols for connecting to SMS centers (SMSCs). By integrating Kannel with On-Chat, your team can receive inbound customer SMS messages directly in On-Chat's shared inbox, enabling collaborative support with routing, automation, and conversation management.

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## Prerequisites
- A running Kannel instance with bearerbox and smsbox services active
- Kannel admin credentials and HTTP API URL
- A shortcode or long number configured in Kannel for receiving inbound SMS
- On-Chat account with admin access
- Access to Kannel configuration to set MO (inbound) message URL

## Step 1: Confirm Kannel Is Running
Verify that your Kannel bearerbox and smsbox services are running. Check the Kannel admin interface (usually accessible at http://yourserver:13000) to confirm active SMSC connections and that your sender number or shortcode is online and receiving messages.

## Step 2: Note the Kannel HTTP API URL and Credentials
Identify your Kannel smsbox HTTP API URL (e.g., http://yourserver:13013/cgi-bin/sendsms). Note the **sendsms-username** and **sendsms-password** configured in your kannel.conf. These are used by On-Chat to send outbound SMS replies.

## Step 3: Create an SMS Inbox in On-Chat
In On-Chat, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → **New Inbox** and select **SMS**. Choose **Kannel** as the provider. Enter the Kannel HTTP API URL, sendsms credentials, and your sender number or shortcode. Save to generate the On-Chat inbound webhook URL.

## Step 4: Configure Inbound SMS Delivery in Kannel
In your Kannel configuration (kannel.conf), set the **sendsms-url** or **smsbox-route** for your shortcode to the On-Chat webhook URL. This ensures that when customers send SMS messages to your Kannel number, they are forwarded to On-Chat as new conversations.

## Step 5: Add Agents and Set Up Routing
In On-Chat, navigate to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → select your Kannel inbox → **Collaborators**. Add the support agents responsible for SMS conversations. Enable auto-assignment so new inbound conversations are distributed among available agents.

## Step 6: Test the Integration
Send a test SMS to your Kannel shortcode or long number. Verify the message appears in On-Chat as a new conversation. Reply from an agent and confirm the reply is delivered to the customer via Kannel. Check Kannel admin logs for delivery confirmation.

## Best Practices
- Configure Kannel with multiple SMSC connections for redundancy and high availability
- Monitor Kannel admin dashboard for queue depths and delivery failures that could affect customer response times
- Use On-Chat canned responses for common SMS support queries to increase agent efficiency
- Set up On-Chat business hour automations so customers receive out-of-hours acknowledgment messages

## Keep reading

- [How to Build a WhatsApp Chatbot Without Code](https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-build-a-whatsapp-chatbot/): A step-by-step tutorial for building a dynamic WhatsApp chatbot in a visual flow builder, from your first message to live data and agent handoff.
- [Chatbot Flow Design: 12 Best Practices](https://on-chat.live/guides/chatbot-flow-design-best-practices/): Practical rules for designing chatbot conversation flows that customers finish: branching, fallbacks, personalisation, handoff and testing.
- [Make Your Chatbot Dynamic with Webhooks](https://on-chat.live/guides/dynamic-chatbot-webhooks/): Connect your chatbot flows to live data. Learn how webhooks, expressions and splits turn a scripted bot into one that answers with real information.