Throughput is how fast a sender can push messages out, measured in messages per second. It sounds like a technical footnote until Election Day, when you need to reach an entire list in a narrow window and throughput decides whether the last voter gets your reminder before polls close. Here's what it is and why it matters most exactly when it matters most.
What is texting throughput?
Throughput is the rate at which the carriers let your registered sender deliver messages, capped per second and per day. A low throughput means a large send trickles out over hours; a high throughput means it goes out in minutes. For everyday sends the difference is invisible, but for a time-critical blast to a big list, throughput is the constraint that determines whether the message arrives while it still matters.
What determines your throughput?
Registration, mostly. Your 10DLC registration and use case set your limits, and this is where the Political Special Use Case earns its keep: it unlocks higher daily throughput, including uncapped daily volume on some carriers, well above the standard lane. Sender reputation and message type factor in too. A campaign that registered properly on the political lane has the headroom a GOTV push demands; one that didn't may find its blast throttled to a crawl.
Why does GOTV depend on throughput?
Because GOTV is the one time speed is non-negotiable. When you're texting a large universe their polling location on Election Day morning, or a final "polls close in two hours" reminder, the message is worthless if it arrives after the window closes. A high-throughput sender delivers to the whole list in time; a throttled one is still sending reminders as the polls shut. This is why registration isn't a formality, it's the difference between a GOTV blast that lands and one that misses the moment it was built for.
Frequently asked questions
What is texting throughput?
The rate at which carriers let your sender deliver messages, in messages per second and per day. It determines how fast a large send goes out.
How do you get higher throughput?
Through proper 10DLC registration on the Political Special Use Case, which unlocks higher daily volume, including uncapped sending on some carriers, plus a good sender reputation.
Why does throughput matter for GOTV?
Because GOTV sends are time-critical. A polling-place or polls-closing reminder is worthless if it arrives after the window. High throughput delivers the whole list in time; a throttled sender misses the moment.
Keep reading: what 10DLC means for your campaign and the 72-hour GOTV plan. For registration, see The Campaign Registry.