System and method of message distribution in a telecommunications network

A signal transfer point (14) in a telecommunications network (10) distributes messages to a plurality of service control points (16) as a result of global title translation processing. The signal transfer point (14) assigns a message allocation to each of the service control points (16). The signal transfer point (14) equally distributes messages to the service control points (16) in a sequential manner. The signal transfer point (14) keeps track of the number of messages sent to each service control point (16). When a particular service control point (16) reaches its message allocation, the signal transfer point (14) prevents further messages to be sent to the particular service control point (16). The signal transfer point (14) then continues sequential and equal distribution to the remaining service control points (16) until each service control point (16) reaches its message allocation. The signal transfer point (14) then resets to send a next set of messages to the service control points (16). Message allocation is adjusted when any service control point (16) becomes unavailable.