Telecom Charging System Architecture

The commercial success of the Online Charging System (OCS) deployed by telcos is a testament to the ever-evolving telecom billing technology. Not so long ago, it was hard to fathom how telcos will be able to accommodate so many new offerings (like 2G, 3G,4G, VAS, OTT etc.) as part of their service. But with consistent development, we are at a juncture where we see convergent billing and real-time charging making things simpler than ever before for both customers and the operators. But the work of telcos has not ended yet. With 5G and even 6G beckoning; and IoT becoming the next big thing in the market, the time to evolve has only just started. The Age-Old Formula of Success Before we go any further and analyze what the future holds for the telecom industry, it is best to first look at the basic formula that has worked so well for telcos. It has always being the ability to adapt one’s billing according to the services that need to be offered, which has driven MNO...

The modern-day telecom industry is going through transitions faster than ever before. Addressing the demands of finicky customers, fighting off the competition at every step of the way and countering the threat of OTT platforms is proving too much to handle for even seasoned telecom operators. This is the main reason why they are trying to maximize their outreach in every way possible. As a result of their efforts, new platforms for telecom service delivery have being created in the form of: MNO, MVNO, MVNA , and MVNE. Why MVNOs Have Become so Popular? While an MNO (Mobile Network Operator) builds his operation from the scratch and make investments in creating network infrastructure, radio frequency spectrum, HLR, VLR, BSC, MSC, OSS etc., an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) receives frequency spectrum and network resources at a cheaper rate from MNOs (Mobile Network Operators). This allows it to sell its telecom services at a lower rate and attract new customers. ...

If your MNVO wants to have any chance of success, you need to have an excellent OCS to charge your customers accurately and regularly. One of the biggest hurdles that MNVO’s face is the fact that they are constantly having to prove their worth. People are still used to working with bigger  telecom companies  and might be suspicious of an  MNVO . Those of us who operate in the space understand that  MNVO s are the wave of the future, but some of your customers are still skeptical. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your billing is on point. Otherwise, you’ll look like an amateur and run the risk of losing customers! Keep Your Customers Loyal with These 4 Tips   1. Ensure consistency in billing:  Any inaccuracy or delay in billing can cause your customers to lose faith in you. By ensuring consistency in billing, you can enhance customer trust in your services. 2. Keep customer information safe:  Th...

MVNO, MVNA, and MVNE are fairly new entities in the telecom world with each having their own role in imparting telecom services. These new entities were created to address the demands of customers whose requirements were not fulfilled by MNO ( Mobile Network Operator ). The establishment of MVNO addresses the requirements of specific customer bases and at the same time allows MNOs to make revenue from subscribers who are not using their services directly. 1. MVNO – An MVNO is a player in the telecom market who does not have its own radio access network. It either buys access to the network services at a bulk wholesale price or gets into a direct reseller agreement with an MNO. After procuring the services, the MVNO sells them to its own subscriber base. As an MVNO has obtained the services at a reduced price, it has the luxury of selling them at a price that is lower ...

Not so long ago, voice calls and SMS were the staples of the telecom industry. Subscribers were happy as long as they could make high-fidelity voice calls and telecom operators were content with the profits they were making. However, nothing in this world stays stagnant, especially not when technology in the industry is  moving at a rapid rate . With the launch of newer technologies and features, the competition between telcos sky-rocketed. As more and more operators got into the mix, the profits started receding. Right now, the race is to launch newer services and better plans. And, to win this race,  telecom operators  need a telecom charging system that can help them  bring their offerings quickly  to the market. Increasing Complexity in Modern-Day Telecom Charging   Telecom charging  systems of yesteryears did exactly what they were devised to do. They kept track of calls and SMS along with charging, rating and billing for the ser...

Nowadays, telecom industry is in a state of flux. Every telco is looking to venture into new territories to compensate for the money lost to competition and OTT (Over the top) services. In the past, telecom operators used to thrive on revenue generated via voice calls and SMS. However, in the present times, the range of services that they need to deliver has widened considerably. The legacy systems employed by telcos no longer do justice to the modern innovative telecom services that need to be delivered. Moreover, telcos require most services to be delivered in real time, which is why; a flexible and   real time charging system   is needed for timely tracking and accurate billing. Online Charging System: The Backbone of a Successful Telecom Billing System   An online charging system is a must-have for any modern telecom billing system. An OCS is essential for telecom operators as it lets them: 1. Charge on the basis of events e.g. SMS 2. Charge on ...

Although the launch of 5G is a great initiative in the race to match wired broadband speeds, its value for a telecom operator hinges upon several factors. Faster data connection may seem like a real boon for the subscribers, however, it does not automatically translates into profits for telcos. A lot was expected by telcos after the launch of 4G, which supplanted the erstwhile 3G connection. But instead of  bringing in new revenue streams , it dug a hole in their pockets as subscribers were lured away by OTT (over the top) platforms like  Netflix ,  Facetime  and Skype. Hence, it is imperative for a telecom operator to be proactive in his strategy while tackling 5G. One way of ensuring that you maximize the advantages offered by 5G is by investing in a real time charging system that monetizes all your offerings. 6 Important Features of OCS OCS ( Online Charging System ) is a real time charging system that is designed to match the...