A cellular network system that performs intelligent cellular channel management, the cellular network system comprising: a cellular core network; a short message service center, SMSC, functioning as part of the cellular core network; a cellular base station in communication with the cellular core network, wherein the cellular base station, BS, communicates wirelessly using a cellular radio access technology, RAT, with user equipment, UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3),, wherein the cellular BS is configured to: establish a physical cellular communication channel between the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3) and a centralized unit, CU, of the cellular network system for sending a short message service, SMS, message via the SMSC in response to a cellular service request from the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and a cellular network messaging controller in communication with the CU, the cellular network messaging controller configured to: analyze one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and determine a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and transmit a channel maintenance instruction to the CU to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active, wherein: in response to the channel maintenance instruction, the physical cellular communication channel is kept active. a cellular core network; a short message service center, SMSC, functioning as part of the cellular core network; a cellular base station in communication with the cellular core network, wherein the cellular base station, BS, communicates wirelessly using a cellular radio access technology, RAT, with user equipment, UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3),, wherein the cellular BS is configured to: establish a physical cellular communication channel between the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3) and a centralized unit, CU, of the cellular network system for sending a short message service, SMS, message via the SMSC in response to a cellular service request from the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and a cellular network messaging controller in communication with the CU, the cellular network messaging controller configured to: analyze one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and determine a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and transmit a channel maintenance instruction to the CU to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active, wherein: in response to the channel maintenance instruction, the physical cellular communication channel is kept active. analyze one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and determine a duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active based on the analyzed one or more characteristics of use of the UE (110-1, 110-2, 110-3); and transmit a channel maintenance instruction to the CU to keep the physical cellular communication channel active based on the cellular network messaging controller determining to adjust the duration of time for which the physical cellular communication channel is kept active, wherein: in response to the channel maintenance instruction, the physical cellular communication channel is kept active.