Interconnect Billing

The Interconnection refers to scenarios where traffic crosses different networks. When the call enters the home network the operator charges the Interconnect partner for using his network. When the call leaves the home network the operator has to pay the Interconnect Partner for using his network.

If any operator is sending/receiving of calls to/from other operators (outside the network) then both the operators needs to be interconnected i.e. both operators should have a network based interconnect to send/receive calls to/from the network. The routing of call based on trunks (a physical wire connected at switch level). When the call comes from other network to home network this call treated under inbound and the operator charges the Interconnect partner for using his network.  When the call goes to home network to the other operator network  is termed at outbound and the operator has to pay the Interconnect Partner for using his network.. This setup requires some kind of billing mechanism to monitor the actual amount of data (send/received).

Network diagram:  A party (Home network) calling to B party at another interconnected network:

The operator who finally receives data (Voice or SMS)  from other B Party operator is know as Terminating partner and call detail of A Party is treated as Mobile terminating call (MTC) while Bparty operator is known as Originating Partner and call details (call type) of Bparty is treated as Mobile originating calls (MOC).

Beside this operator can works as Transit Network i.e. it receives data (voice or SMS) from one operator and delivers it (as it is) to any other operator.  To transfer data (voice or SMS) to various destinations, general purpose carriers are used that sends data according to the country code.

In Interconnect scenario. Mobile operator has agreement with various business partners for routing the calls.

The agreement is all about:

1. Handling the call
2. Rating terms
3. Paying terms
4. Billing terms.
5. Data Exchange terms

When a home subscriber calls a number which is routed through external network of business partners, the external network invoices the home network for a call depending on the traffic volume and may send call details. The home network pays the invoices and bills this to customers. This is called interconnect outbound

When a home subscriber receives a call from external network the external network pays the invoices in terms of volume usage of home network .This is called interconnect inbound.

Traffic scenarios  discussion:

Interconnect outbound:In this case A party of home network calling to B party of external network.

AT home location:

• MOC CDR generated which contains Information of A party IMSI, ICCID, Mobile number,Calling party number,Cell ID, Timestamps, duration of calls, Trunks groups information.
• An Transit CDR is generated for calling party at each additional MSC. This contains information about routing trunk group.

Interconnect Inbound: In this scenario B party from external network call to A party at home network and thus home network trunks is needed to terminate this call.

At home network:

• Mobile terminating call record generated.
• Roaming call forwarding (RCF) generated at very first MSC.

Billing process:

Consider a call originating in the home network of the subscriber, and terminating at a destination in a different network. Several transit networks can be involved. Each network collects CDR‘s at its own switches for billing and reconciliation. Basically, incoming traffic will be billed for, and outgoing traffic relates to reconciliation.

When a new telecom operator is registered, a contract is signed. Contract is signed for both Incoming and outgoing calls. Trunks are configured at switch level to routing the calls and trunks group is defined for various operators (Inbound/Outbound). In general two types of charging policies:

• Distance based charging
• Destination based charging

Rates depend on the charging policy, if it is destination based billing then rates is specified according to the area code of terminating destination. While In distance based billing, rates are specified according to different zones.

CDR Collection process for billing

In general billing (Inbound/outbound) is done using total answer minutes routed through trunks. The incoming trunk and out trunk information is taken from call details (CDR’s). We also analyze traffic and monitor utilization trunks over switch.

Interconnect SMS scenario