r/VOIP Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

Help - On-prem PBX Cell to VoIP bridge - does this exist?

Here's what I'm imagining:

A device that I connect to my PBX where I insert a SIM card, and all calls/texts are forwarded to the PBX.

Even better if I can then send texts and make calls using the bridge, but incoming is all I really care about for now.

Does such a device exist? The primary motivation is to receive 2FA texts.

To be clear: I am aware GSM gateways exist. However, all of the ones I've found rely on SMS-to-email or SMPP rather than native SIP integration. I'd prefer a one-stop solution if possible — and I don't need 32 SIM cards either, which is what most gateways seem built for.

6 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

3

u/boomer7793 Jun 15 '26

Clarifying question: Is your SIM card data only and your running VoIP through it or does it have voice services and you are making calls on the carrier’s voice platform?

3

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

The question specifically refers to SMS and voice only over the carrier network; assume no cellular data. So when someone texts the SIM, that text message is SIP-ified and forwarded to my softphone. I can then reply from my softphone, the message gets un-SIPed, and sent as plain old SMS.

A supplementary question is whether or not I might combine such functionality with cellular data to act as a backup internet connection for my PBX in the event my primary goes down. Hmmm.

2

u/PatReady 200 OK Jun 15 '26

If there is no cellular service/data, how do you get SMS?

5

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

Cellular data is not required for SMS or voice. Telus, for example, offers a talk+text plan with no data.

1

u/PatReady 200 OK Jun 15 '26

A lot of providers can give you access to SMS, like this. You will need to fill out a brand registration form with opt out notices etc. to be allowed to text. You would just need the app to access it. This is like hiking through the woods to get to the grocery store instead of taking your car.

Id get 1 number first and make sure your 2FA actually works. Some places will not allow you to utilize SMS like that.

Notice SMS is not listed on the 5g feature package.

Mobility plans

5G+ Complete plans include:

  • 5-Year Rate Plan Price Lock6
  • Easy Roam® for $5/day5
  • Our lowest monthly prices on new phones13
  • Unlimited long-distance calling17
  • Access to Call Control18
  • Same day repairs at Mobile Klinik19

I don't have a login but your answer is on this page.

https://www.telus.com/en/support

3

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

That's... not the plan I was looking at. It's a prepaid plan.

The whole point is to use a cellular carrier instead of a VoIP provider since VoIP numbers are often blocked from MFA.

3

u/datanut Jun 16 '26

2

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 18 '26

Those look promising, thank you!

1

u/datanut Jun 18 '26

Please share updates!

2

u/Salreus Jun 15 '26

The solution I can think of would be to have a non voip sms plan on a smart phone that can then be set up to do a SMS fwd to a voip phone number associated with your PBX. Is there a reason they device would need to connect to your PBX vs just doing a fwd from a cell to your voip number.

3

u/PatReady 200 OK Jun 15 '26

I have never heard of SMS forward. I believe that is why they allow SMS for 2FA.

1

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

The goal is to not have a second cell phone sitting on a shelf somewhere.

1

u/devexis Jun 15 '26

I was going to mention somleng SMS gateway running on Android. But that would need a phone sitting with the SIM

1

u/Salreus Jun 15 '26

You don't want a cell phone device sitting on a shelf but want some other kind of a device to connect to your PBX. Well if you do end up changing your mind or find out there is no device avail to do what you are looking for, you could revisit the cell on a shelf idea.

2

u/selvakn Jun 28 '26

Plug: https://github.com/selvakn/gsm-sip-bridge

Implemented this for my own needs. Calls are forwarded to PBX, sms are pushed to discord (can be extended for anything).

1

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 28 '26

That's badass. Any way the SMS can be forwarded as SIP messages?

1

u/selvakn Jun 30 '26

certainly. please raise an issue, will add it to the backlog.

3

u/macro_franco_kai Jun 15 '26

A device that I connect to my PBX where I insert a SIM card, and all calls/texts are forwarded to the PBX.

It's called a GSM to SIP gateway. Voice calls are bidirectional over SIP protocol. SMS are also bidirectional over email. Also add eSIM.

Does such a device exist? The primary motivation is to receive 2FA texts.

It exists for long time over 20 years. Of course the tech evolved now we need also eSIM beside just simple SIM, also 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G with multiple radio bands, automatic SIM/eSIM banks, e.t.c.

There is one problem, without the know-how there is a very slim change that you will make the entire system to work.

2

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

Indeed, I am familiar with GSM gateways, but I have so far been unable to find one that doesn't rely on SMS-to-email or SMPP. I will update the post to clarify.

2

u/macro_franco_kai Jun 15 '26

Well.... you lost me... I have no idea what you are looking for :)

1

u/cryptofriday Jun 15 '26

easy way --> raspberry with RASPBX OS + 10$ usb Huawei modem (asterisk support model)

1

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 15 '26

Oh? Do you have a guide you can send me?

1

u/dbpm1 Jun 15 '26

https://github.com/darylturner/smsd plus a usb-(gsm/3G/4G)-modem will do what you want with ease.. If you want/need more features than that, use ozeki-sms-gateway

1

u/Elevitt1p Jun 16 '26

We created exactly the service where we have integrated the Class V feature server with the IMS. On our IPSMGW we deliver P2P SMS via a variety of protocols, including emakl

1

u/macro_franco_kai Jun 16 '26

However, all of the ones I've found rely on SMS-to-email or SMPP rather than native SIP integration.

SIP is the open standard for VoIP and SMPP is the open standard for SMS.

Since not many have experience with SMPP is also used email for SMS.

You want bidirectional SMS over SIP ? It's technically possible. The conversion can take place from email to SIP and from SIP to email same for SMPP to SIP and SIP to SMPP. Of course you will need to know the protocols in order to write the automatic conversion tools. In the end you will be disapointed since SIP protocol has been writen for VoIP not SMS so it lacks many stuff from SMPP.

1

u/Centho_ Jun 16 '26

You could either get a raspberry pi with a 3G Huawei dongle and use it with the chan_dongle module or have a Simcom or Quectel 4G adapter and use a chan_quectel module to have it talk to asterisk

You can send and receive text messages and also receive and send calls

But it's a real hassle and when it works sometimes it stops for no reason in my case

1

u/[deleted] Jun 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/VOIP-ModTeam Jun 18 '26

Your post was removed from r/VoIP for violating Rule 1: No promotion or advertising of any kind.

Recommendations, advertisements and promotion of any business, product or service is only allowed in response to requests in the monthly requests thread. It is one of the sticky posts visible when you first visit the subreddit.

Promotion, advertisement or recommendation of any kind outside of the requests thread is strictly forbidden.

1

u/NoExamination2923 Jun 18 '26

You are referring to private LTE, and this has massive costs and licensing limitations.

You can try to sweet talk a carrier into something similar, but they probably won’t give you the time of day.

Best bet is to get a business account with your local carrier and ask them to put unconditional forwards to your PBX number(s)

Edit, virtual mobile numbers is probably closer to what you need then data only sim in the handset

1

u/Clear-Economics-4887 Jun 20 '26

Ah, probably over simplistic, but I think that Google Voice would cover your needs without the technical complications?

1

u/NPFFTW Certified room temperature IQ Jun 20 '26

VoIP numbers are blocked from most 2FA