A method for distributing Sigtran connections among signal transfer point (STP) message processors includes providing a connection load balancer as a front end to plural message processors of an STP. The method further includes publishing, by the connection load balancer, an Internet protocol (IP) address to SS7 peers. The method further includes initializing the message processors of the STP to listen on the IP address published by the connection load balancer. The method further includes receiving, at the connection load balancer, a Sigtran message addressed to the IP address. The method further includes determining, by the connection load balancer, whether the Sigtran message is an initial message for a Sigtran connection or a subsequent message for a Sigtran connection and whether the Sigtran connection has been assigned to one of the message processors. The method further includes forwarding the message to one of the message processors or dropping the message based on whether the message is an initial message or a subsequent message and based on whether the connection has been assigned to one of the message processors.