Download - Convergent Billing
The Billing story of BSNL:Challenges ahead.
Subrata Chatterjee, DGM-ITIT Project Circle, BSNL
Manual Billing
In the early days of DOT, the Commercial/ Billing/ Accounting activities were conducted manually.
Billing was simple. There was a flat rate per call. Just send an Invoice and collect payment;
Computerization of BillingBy and by, Billing activities got computerized. The Calcutta Telephones computerized their billing operations in 1964;
In the 1980s, an early version of the TBL package was being used in many places;
The Trichur package, a character based application with a Billing server and ‘dumb’terminals came up in the early nineties, as billing operations grew more complex.
Trichur Billing packageBut the Trichur package never required much Networking, as all other activities like Commercial and Accounting were manually conducted.
Growing ComplexitiesMany repetitive activities like feeding Commercial data into Trichur system at the end of the day or transporting /mailing the same to the Trichur system made life very inconvenient;
Gradually the Commercial/TRA activities grew more complex: Many CSCs were established to collect payments, accept New Phone Connections(NPC), requests, issue duplicate bills, generate Demand Notes, etc.
Expansion of Network became inevitable;
The need for a GUI-based, WAN supported-Integrated application was felt to meet the complex operations.
Advent of DotsoftIn early 1998, Dotsoft, an in-house package was deployed at Guntur in AP.Dotsoft is an integrated telecom database system comprising commercial, billing, accounting, fault repair service and directory enquiry services.
All requests on the CSCsflow to the Commercial or TRA sections as the case may be.
Diagram showing central database at Nodal SSA to which all SSAs are connected and are partitioned by Virtual Private Database (VPD).A Central Server, central man-power resources and a highly reduced number of Oracle licenses, resulted into higher economy.
DB
SSA-2
SSA-n
Nodal SSA
Multi-SSA DotsoftSSA-3
SSA-1
NASHIK
ISDNNetwork
DialupNetwork
Telephone Bhawan
BSNL PCM(Leased Line) Network
PC
ISDNNetworkPCM
E1/R2PRI
2MB Leased Line toNashik
LEGEND
Category C RouterCategory D router
Server
24 Port Switch
Category A Router
G.703 to V.35 Converter
8 Port HUBDial Up Modem
User Terminal2Mb LL LinkDial Up linkISDN BRI
12 Port Switch
2MB
Leas
ed Li
ne to
Nas
hik
LAN Extender
SMP
ISDN PRIE1/R2
CND Comml
UTP Uplink
CND
PC PC
Burrabazar Exchange
ISDNNetworkPCM
DialUp
RLU – 1 to 5
DialupNetwork
RLU – 1 to 4
RLU -1 to 5
RATNAGIRI
RAIGAD
SATARA
Category B Router
PC PC
ISDNNetworkPCM Dial
Up
RLU -1 to 5RLU -1 to 17
DHULE
External Co’s Building
2 Mb leased line to the 8 Area Offices
ISDNNetworkPCM
RLU -1 to 5
NANDED
AM (N) /CO’s Office
PC
ISDNNetworkPCM
DialUp
RLU -1 to 9RLU -1 to 4
PARBHANI
Exchange
Existing 32 port RASMM Fiber Link
PC PC
ISDNNetwork
DialUp
DialupNetwork
RLU – 1 to 15
LATUR
RLU – 1 to 5
Extl. Building AOTR & CO’s Bldg
PCM
Convergent Billing i.e. Single bill process for WLL Customers, ISDN Customers, Plan opted Customers, Normal Customers, Corporate Customers, Group (i.e. Monthly/ Bi-Monthly) Customers;
But Billing essentially remains MCU based. Only OMR/CMR information is extracted manually from the PSTN switches and uploaded into the billing system in a suitable text format;
Convergent Billing within Dotsoft
Leased Circuit BillingLeased Circuit Billing is done manually across BSNL.
IOBAS : Interconnect Billing
• This is a CDR based billing system;• Rating is done by IUC-IV tables;• Problems remain with 100% CDR collection;• Other issues like, Trunk Group changes intimation
on time, Supplementary bills, Dispute settlement, etc.
Leased Circuit BillingLeased Circuit Billing is done manually across BSNL.
• Utilizing the infrastructure of IOBAS, ILDO Billing was started in Dec’ 06
• One single invoice for BSNL covering all ILDO switches
• WTR is the Bill Issuing Authority• Limited tender floated among the ASPs of IOBAS for
finalizing the Primary ASP• Primary ASP coordinates with other ASPs and
generates the I/C Invoice and the O/G Statement • M/s. Tech Mahindra is the Primary ASP
ILDO Billing
ILDO Billing• Presently Telecom Italia Sparkle (TIS) is the only
one Foreign Carrier (FC) using Bharat - Lanka Cable System;
• The I/C invoice and the O/G statement for TIS is being issued by IOBAS within time;
• About 20 Million O/G Minutes per month and about 78,175 I/C Minutes were billed for Feb’07;
• US $ 1.322 Million is the O/G amount for Feb’07;• US $ 3,815 is the I/C Bill for Feb’07;
Data-one (Broadband) billing• An usage based billing system, designed in-house,
for BSNL’s broadband services;• 7,65,512 customers billed for the month of Feb’07.• Ave. rev Rs. 629/- per user;• Total monthly billing 48.21 cr. (Feb’07) Excluding
Modem Rental amount;• About 70,000 customers in Unlimited Plans.• Max. no. of customers are in TN (1.5 Lakh),
Karnataka (1.25 Lakh), MH (90,000);
Games on Demand (GoD) Billing• Started in Jan 2007 in association with M/s. India
Games as a franchisee.• 244 customers are billed/to be billed for the
month of Feb’07.• Patches for DoTSOFT and Trichur released for
billing the customers.• Patches for the other billing softwares used by the
SSAs to be developed/ implemented by the SSAs• Revenue share at the level of Circle.
Multi-play (IPTV) Billing• Started on 15/03/2007 in association with M/s.
MKCL and M/s. Divinet as a Joint Franchisee in Pune.
• Presently IPTV Services and Video on Demand (VoD) are available.
• Service was free up to 30/04/2007.• Developed code for interfacing between operational
system (system of Franchisee) and billing system.• Scheduled to test run the billing software in the first
week of Apr’07.
Leased Circuit Billing• Started on 15/03/2007 in association with M/s.
MKCL and M/s. Divinet as a Joint Franchisee in Pune.
• Presently IPTV Services and Video on Demand (VoD) are available.
• Service was free up to 30/04/2007. • Developed code for interfacing between operational
system (system of Franchisee) and billing system.• Scheduled to test run the billing software in the first
week of Apr’07.
• Cellular services provided Circle wise;• Heart of Customer Care for Mobile Services;• A truly CDR based billing system;
GSM Billing: Cellone
MCAP JNLBIPCAPLBX
CPMGuides Usage to Customer DB
COL
Collections
BillFormatter
BillDispatcher
Journals
COM
Communication Accumulatorand Rater
BillPreparer
RAP
TIP
Credit Card
Lock Box
EFT
Electronic Funds
Transfer
BIF BID
TOP
Usage Re-rater
Table-driven Input Processor
TAP3 Output ProcessorMPS
Billing Financials
GSM Billing: CelloneThe Kenan Billing system consists of-:
• Data Mediation;• Order Management; (OM)• Billing Platform (BP)• Remedy (Fault Tracking System)• Inter-Connect Billing;• Customer driven network event collected by
Mediation;• Usage can be rated based on attributes,
Kenan/BP
Kenan/OM
Mediation
Provisioning
ICB
Remedy
B&CCS
Network Elements
External payments
EBPP System
ECS(DD) / RBI
Invoice Printing
SIM PPC / Manufacturer
WAN – routers over E1 lines
CSRs CSRs CSRs CSRs
Credit Cards
GL System / Journals
Receipt Printing
GUIs of BP, OM and Remedy
Network Elements
Architecture of Kenan/BP
The next step towards convergence…..
CDR based Billing and Customer Care for Land-lines.
Country wide connectivity
DC and SSA Network Deployment Architecture
E1
NIB-2Network
Pedge1841
Pedge1841
Pedge1841
E3/STM-3
E3/STM-3
Pedge1841
To SSAsTo SSAs
Aggregation/Central Router
Cisco 7500
Aggregation/CentralRouter
Cisco 7500
E1
Exchange RtrCisco 2811 Exchange Rtr
Cisco 2811
PSTNSwitch
PSTNSwitch
E1E1
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AAAServer
NIDS Firewall
Backbone RtrCisco 7609
Backbone RtrCisco 7609
I
Ethernet Swt. II(Cisco 2950)
IBM Compatible
IBM Compatible
RASCisco AS5350
RASCisco AS5350
Internet RtrCisco 7609
Internet RtrCisco 7609
InternetDial-up/ISDN
Eth Swt-ICisco 6509
Eth Swt-ICisco 6509
FirewallNIDS
Remote Rtr/Eth Ext1841/Dax4021
Eth Swt2950
Local LAN
Remote Rtr/Eth Ext1841/Dax4021
To CSR Center
Eth Swt2950
LAN To CSR
Data CenterInfrastructure
Collection Methodology of CDRs
Backbone Router Backbone
Router
E3/STM-1 E3/STM-1
Data Center
FirewallFirewallEthSWITCH
NIDS
Mediation System
SSA
E1
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NIB – MPLS VPNNetwork
Edge Rtr
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Edge Rtr
Edge Rtr
Edge RtrEdge Rtr
Edge Rtr
Aggregation Router
E1
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LE RouterLocal Exchange
E1
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Call Made
Call Received
Call Completed
CDR Generated
MTE
CDOT
CES
CDR Data Flow from LE to DC
MPLS Cloud
NOC(DC)
Aggregation Central
Aggregation
NOC(DR)
CDR Collector CDR Collector
Exchange
PSTN
Exchange
PSTN
X.25 over IP
MPLS-VPN
X.25 over IP
Remote Exchange
X.25
X.25
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
BackboneRouter
(Cisco 7609)
BackboneRouter
(Cisco 7609)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
E1 link
Data CenterRouter
(Cisco 7513)
Data CenterRouter
(Cisco 7513)
PSTNSwitch
PSTNSwitch
PE Router(Cisco7613)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
PE Router(Cisco7613)
E1 link
PSTNSwitch
PSTNSwitch
PSTNSwitch
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
PSTNSwitch
AggregationRouter
(Cisco 7507)
NIB-2MPLS VPN
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X.25 overTCP/IP
IP overMPLS-VPN
X.25 overTCP/IP
X.25orIP
CDR Collectors
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Seri
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E3 / STM-1 link
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PE Router(Cisco7613)
ExchangeRouter
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PSTNSwitch
CentralRouter
(Cisco 7513)
Data CenterLAN
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
ExchangeRouter
(Cisco 2811)
AggregationRouter
(Cisco 7507)
CDR Data Flow from LE to DC
CDR based Billing & Customer Care• Move from telephone based system to Customer based
system• Accurate and timely invoicing of call details to generate
error free bills• Supports different tariffs, different Billing cycles,
different discounting schemes for different category of subscribers.
• Pre-paid and Post Paid integration possible• Easy implementation of change in business policies
and rules.• Host of online services, online query and prompt customer
response
CDR based Billing & Customer Care
CDR Data Flow from LE to DC
CDR based Billing & Customer Care• Online mediation of CDRs eliminates the need of bill data
transportation, eliminating fraud on this account• Proper accounting of payments & receivables for better
financial management • Standard and adhoc reporting on all aspects of the business • Facilitate market studies and analyses for forming optimal
sales strategies and assess business performance of self and partners, Churn analysis and prevention.
• Minimization of internal and external frauds• System consolidation resulting in reduction of O&M cost.
Why Mediation System ?• Facilitates on line Collection, Processing &
Distribution of raw CDRs & meter reading;• Removes human interference between switching &
billing system• Provisioning of Subscriber Services• Alarm Generation• Support to Fraud Management & Control• Single source of data for Interconnect Settlement,
Retail Billing and Fraud Management;
Features of Mediation System
• Sits between Network elements and BP• Collection, Processing & Distribution of CDRs• Selection & validation of CDRs• Merging of Multiple CDRs• Duplicate CDR detection• Time gap detection• Flexible processing & error handling of CDRs• Database Lookup• CDR collection Scheduling
Features of Mediation System
• CDR collection Scheduling• Monitoring of Active Jobs• Maintenance of Logs (Event, Error etc)• Elimination/Filtering of CDRs• Data partitioning into different streams based
on user-defined criteria• Service Provisioning
Billing and Accounting• Creation and maintenance of tariff plans as
per BSNL’s requirements• Ordering of services and activation of billing • Maintenance of individual subscriber ledger
accounts• Payment noting.• Maintenance of deposit accounts• Subscriber hierarchies • Contracts configuration
Billing and Accounting
• Easily configurable rating plans • Differential rating for CUG • Special Calls, Frequent numbers, Friends and
Family • Tariff and product structures flexibly • Ability to assign a unique tariff to each customer or
same tariff to a group of customers.• Special pricing based on dates to support holiday
rates.
Billing and Accounting• Corporate billing• Different methods of discounting • Billing hierarchies • Ability to provide taxes with respect to all charge
types • Ad hoc bill (Bill on Demand)• Ability to charge late payment fees. • Journal Creation and Posting to General Ledger• Tight integration between the Billing Application
and a CRM
CRM• Order Fulfillment to Billing• Customer Call to Problem Resolution• Marketing Campaign to Order Capture• Integration with Order management, billing, CTI
and IVRS, Provisioning systems and with all customer related subsystems
• Integration with Complaint Handling system• Workflow• Customer service through call centre, E-Mail,
SMS, FAX, Web Self Care(WSC), letter
BSS - A Complete Solution
InventoryInventory
Cus
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Cus
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Customer CareCustomer Care
Med
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BillingBilling
RatingRating
PaymentsPayments Report Report GenerationGeneration
Prov
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Prov
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DATABASEDATABASE
Printing System/ Printing System/ Print VendorPrint Vendor Payment InterfacesPayment Interfaces
Cr Card/Banks/Chq etcCr Card/Banks/Chq etc..
General LedgerGeneral LedgerSystemSystem
Web Self CareWeb Self Care
ClaearingClaearing HouseHouseoror
Other SourcesOther Sources
NetworkNetwork
Self CareSelf CareAAAAAA
ContentContent
TodaySeparate Service Networks
Separate Access Transport & Switching Networks
INET
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ata
/IP N
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orks
PLM
N
PSTN
/ISD
N
Services
Current Scenario
Problems of Existing network• Slow to develop new features and capabilities.• Expensive upgrades and operating expenses.• Proprietary vendor troubles• Large power and cooling requirements.• Limited migration strategy to New tech.• Product/model obsolescence.
In other words CONVERGENCE is the need of the hour……..
• The Convergence and requirement of fast deployment of new services at less cost……
…….gives birth toNGNOR
NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS
Present Day Networks Next Generation Networks (NGN)
Gateways
Internet
Wireless TelephoneSystem
Workstation
IntegratedServices Over IP
Workstation
Evolving towards IP Communications
NGN Concept
• Each service has its own network– Multiplied operational costs
• Each network managed separately– No service interaction
• Multiple customer profiles
• Seamless service linkage– All services over any access
• One network for any service– Unified management structure
• Single customer profile
Today New Service Network
Private DataInternet Deep Access
Services EdgeMulti-service Aggregation
MPLS Core
OSS OSS OSS OSS OSS OSS
Mobile
NB VoiceWAN
Customer Customer
Migrate
Video
NGN :Definition (As per ITU)NGN is a packet based network which is able to provide telecom services and able to make use of multiple broadband, QoS enabled transport technologies in which service related functions are independent from underlying transport related technologies.
NGN :Definition (As per ETSI)NGN is a concept for defining and deploying networks, which due to their formal separation into different layers and planes and use of open interfaces, offers service providers and operators a platform which can evolve in a step-by-step manner to create, deploy and manage innovative services.
Towards Convergent Billing……
Transition to Convergent Services•Transition from static market environment to dynamic fast-paced innovation; •From low speed to high speed.•From divergence to convergence •From local to global;•From fixed to mobile(3G);•From ‘sometimes on’ to ‘always on’;•From one-media to multi-media;•From distinct to bundled;•From circuit switched to packet based networks;
Traditional Billing vs Convergent Billing•Traditional billing systems are tied to individual technologies.•Call detail records (CDRs) are generated by wireline voice switches. •IP flow records are generated by Cisco routers. •PVC(Permanent Virtual Connection) traffic history is gathered from ATM and Frame Relay devices. •RADIUS accounting records monitor switched dial-up or ISDN Internet access, media through Cable network;•At its core, convergent billing is the integration of all service charges onto a single customer invoice. Convergent billing means creating a unified view of the customer ― and all services provided to that customer ― for single-point customer care.
Why Convergent Billing?•Customers want to purchase many communications services from single provider;•Customers want all services invoiced on a single consolidated bill. •Receiving a single bill simplifies processing and payment for the customer. •A unified bill enables cross-service discounts, so that customers who order multiple services can receive preferential pricing. •Multi-service providers who successfully create a unified view of each customer gain a competitive edge that helps them hold onto existing customers and attract new ones.
Features of Convergent Billing•At the lowest level, Convergent billing involves gathering data in various formats, originating from diverse systems, and mediatingit into a common format. One industry effort that may facilitate this is the standard IP detail record (IPDR) format being defined by IPDR.org.•Options for Billing by second, byte (volume) or packet or Billing by Event. (these options can be mixed and matched with a flat fee in addition).•Supports 3G services/VoIP/ circuit-switch for voice, Interconnect billing, etc.
Features of Convergent Billing• Decoupling of service provision and network;•Can separate network billing with Service billing;•Supports multi-party billing;
•Unrestricted access by users to different service providers;
Features of Convergent Billing•Highly scalable;•Can be customized (parents can pre-pay a part of the bill);•Multi-service data collection and mediation possible;•Flexible enough to bill by volume or content type or by event;•Its versatility can be leveraged to use this as a strategic selling tool;•VoIP/ IPTV gets a new lease of life in this environment, being cheap and content-rich. It can be the killer-application leveraged by Convergent billing;•Pre-paid and Post-paid accounts unified;•Service providers make a killing with Inter-connect billing, by using the state of the art Convergent Billing apps over those with older legacy billing systems;
Factors influencing Convergent Billing•Legacy Business Rules;• Regulations regarding content, M-commerce, Copyright issues );•Competitions and ensuring level-playing field;•Security and privacy issues;•Affordability and pricing issues;•New Technology, like 3G Mobile devices being used in place of ‘credit cards’;•Inter-connect issues;•Customer demands;•Economy of scale;
Convergent Billing in Ubiquitous Societies………
New Ubiquitous Societies•Advanced countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore besides USA are fast moving towards an ‘ubiquitous network’society;•Always available and Everywhere network;
•Merging of wire-line/ wireless/ DSL/ OFC network infrastructure;
Research and deployment in the following field to synergize with the converged network/ services:- Microchip Network Technology; - Ubiquitous Network Authentication and Agent Technology; - Ubiquitous network control and management technology;
- Radio-frequency identification (RFID)
New Ubiquitous Societies
Real-time Event based billing:Each interactive device and activity can be billed in real-time, by using the robust features of the Convergent Billing Apps, based on volume, time, distance, quality of content and services or based on Event.
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.”
-Wayne Gretzky