Telecom OSS/BSS Overview
Prepared by : Magid Fatehy Telecom OSS Team Leader at Giza Systems www.magid.tk
Before we Begin
This presentation is a very high level
overview for the most Telecom OSS/BSS components. Any information or examples in the presentation are not related to a specific operator or vendor. Any similarity with any implementation is not intended.
Agenda
General Concepts
Data Collection Mediation
Billing
SS7 Monitoring Revenue Assurance Fraud Management Fulfillment / Provisioning
Number Portability Management
General Concepts
Numbering Plan +20 10 1234567
+ or 00 20 10 1234567
To dial international number Egypt prefix Vodafone prefix Subscriber number
Call Scenario
Local Loop
Internal Trunks
Internal Trunks
Local Loop
Toll Exchange or Tandem Switch : connects multiple switches to route the calls
CDR / EDR / xDR
CDR: Call Detail Record Generally called EDR (E for Event) or xDR
The switch generate the EDR which contain mainly
A#: Calling Number B#: Called Number
Duration: Call Duration
Start Date Time: Date & Time of the call
There are a lot of other fields generated in the EDR depending on the event type; Voice call, Video call, SMS, MMS, etc.
Main OSS / BSS Components
CRM
Contact Management Order Management Call Center Loyalty & Retention
Provisioning / Service Fulfillment
Service Activation Network Inventory Workforce Management Collection
Switch
Data Collection SS7 Monitoring Mediation Rating
Retail Billing System(s)
Billing Bill Production
Interconnect Billing System(s)
Revenue Assurance
Test Call Generator Fraud Management
Data Collection
Data Collection Design
Data Collection (Cont.)
Exchanges Types
Alcatel Siemens
Lucent
Ericsson Nortel
Huawei
ZTE
OCB, HC3.1, HC3.2, HC3.4 EWSD 5ESS AXE, AXD DMS UNO, CDMA, C&C08 UNO, CDMA
Data Collection (Cont.)
Billing Files Types
AMA (Automatic Message Accounting) Contain the detailed events information (EDRs) METER Contain the subscriber number and his counters (pulsing) Obsolete
Data Collection (Cont.)
Front Collector (FC) Function
Interact with the exchange by its network protocol (X.25, Ethernet, etc) Polling data files Data files storage The process is not just file coping, it is a self managed process, Automated scheduling of collection, automated failure recovery, etc
Data Collection (Cont.)
Central Access Network Server (CANS)
Polling Files from FCs Transferring Files to Mediation Billing Files Storage
Mediation
Mediation (Cont.)
What is Mediation ?
Set of pre processing functions that are
applied to EDRs and other billing related records.
Provide the mediated data to the end systems: Retail Billing Interconnect Billing Revenue Assurance & Fraud Management Data Warehouse
Mediation (Cont.)
Main Mediation Functions
Collection and Archive From Data Collections or from the switches (in another setup) Parsing Applying The Business Rules
Mediation (Cont.)
Parsing / Reformatting
The process of decoding the input files
and transforming it to the required format by the end system
The Input files formats: ASCII (Delimited, Fixed Size) Binary (Fixed block size / variable block size)
Mediation (Cont.)
Applying The Business Rules
Normalization
e.g.: Numbers Format, Time Format
Filtration
e.g.: Zero call durations, Non billing CRDs
Correlation & Aggregation
e.g.: OVERFLOW calls, Long call duration
Duplicate Detection Data Enrichment
Mediation (Cont.)
Auditing & Reporting
Reporting
e.g.: Number of CDRs in specific switch per
day, month, etc.
Error Processing
Errors reporting & reprocessing.
Billing
Retail Billing (Billing only)
For postpaid subscribers
Interconnect Billing (Wholesale
Billing)
For other network operators
Retail Billing
Rating
Rate each EDR with the corresponding rate
Billing
Calculate the fixed charges, discounts, etc
(Bill Cycle)
Bill Production
Produce and print the invoices
Collection & Payment
Can be a part of billing system or a dedicated
system
Retail Billing (Cont.)
The rate Depend On :
Service Type (Voice, SMS, MMS, etc)
Destination (Local, Mobile,
International, etc) Time of the call (Peak, Off Peak) Subscriber's rate plan
Interconnect Billing
Interconnection Terminology
Franchise 2 Franchise 1
Point of interconnect
Network Address
InterconnecT Owner Node Organisation Group Path
Network Operator (NOP)
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Interconnection Scenario
Invoice Direction From Interconnect Owner NOP Call Direction To
Payment Direction
Invoice is based on the NOPs charge for terminating a call
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Call Types
Incoming (Interconnect)
Operator A
Interconnect Owner
Transit (Interconnect)
Retail
Operator B
Outgoing (Retail & Interconnect)
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Interconnect Process
Call Detail Records
Network Operator
Outgoing Statement
Pricing
Negotiations
Invoice
Summary Incoming Statement
Reconciliation
Settlement
Negotiations
Invoice Payment
Network Operator
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
Call Scenarios
Direct Incoming / Outgoing Indirect Incoming / Outgoing Traditional Transit Reverse Incoming / Outgoing (Free Phone)
Refile / Hubbing
Interconnect Billing (Cont.)
International Agreements
The international interconnection agreements differ than
the national interconnection agreements in many aspects. e.g.
National: Invoices International: Declaration
Optimized Routing
A system which dynamically update the
routing table on the switch to select the best route to every destination. The best route can be determined based on the price, line quality, interconnect agreement conditions, etc. The Optimized Routing system gets feeds from interconnect billing and SS7 monitoring to select the best route and update switches.
SS7 Monitoring
SS7 Protocol
Signaling protocol between network
elements (Switches)
SS7 Monitoring Solutions
Monitor the signals between switches
and generate reports / Build EDRs from these information.
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
Probes
Switch A Switch B
SS7 Monitoring Solution
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
Signals for a call from Switch A to Switch B
Switch A
(1) IAM [called #] (2) ACM
Switch B
(3) ANM
(4) REL (5) RLC
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
SS7 Monitoring Importance
For Network Analysis
Based on SS7 signals reports
Identify network problems (e.g. Congestion) Identify Routing Control and increase the Quality of Service; QoS Planning future extendibility of the network
SS7 Monitoring (Cont.)
SS7 Monitoring Importance
For Revenue Assurance
Based on the EDRs built from SS7 signals
Compare SS7 signaling EDRs with Switch EDRs Identify possible fraud
Revenue Assurance
Revenue Assurance focus on
detection & correction of data discrepancies
between the operators systems & processes
RA get feeds from all systems and
apply a reconciliation to ensure that there is no revenue loss in any system.
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance Types:
1. Usage Assurance
Reconcile the traffic (EDRs) between the systems;
Switches, Mediation and Billing.
e.g. Compare the pre mediated EDRs (switches
EDRs) with post mediated EDRs (after mediation) to ensure the mediation process.
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
Revenue Assurance Types: 2. Subscription Assurance
Reconcile the subscribers profiles between the
switches and billing to avoid:
1. Under Billing: subscribers have the service but
not charged for it (exist in the switch but not exist in the billing) 2. Over billing: an opposite of Under Billing
Revenue Assurance (Cont.)
RA System Life Cycle
Files from all Systems
Transformation
RA Database
Measures KPIs Reports Dashboard
The transformation specification for each file called a Parser Number of Parsers = Numbers of different input formats
Test Call Generator
Can be considered under RA umbrella. Generate test calls to test any new service,
network element, route, etc.
Generate calls using a pre configured
parameters; time, duration, destination, etc.
Feed the RA with the log of generated calls and
RA reconcile it with switch EDRs to ensure the correct charging.
Fraud Management
Fraud management system focus on
detection any abnormal behavior
(pattern) within the network.
Fraud management system apply
rules to detect any abnormal behavior and fire alarms in a near real time fashion.
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Rules Examples
If a subscriber makes 100 international
calls per day Fire an alarm
If a new subscriber makes GSM calls by
1000 EGP per day Fire an alarm
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Examples of Fraud Types
1. Call Selling a) The fraudster get a normal home phone. b) Offers cheap rate international calls to public c) Escapes away without paying the bills
Pattern: Huge international traffic for different countries from a normal home user
Fraud Management (Cont.)
Examples of Fraud Types
2. Cloning A. The fraudster clone a SIM card to another SIM B. Fraudster make huge calls using the new SIM C. The operator bills the original legitimate subscriber for these calls and he refused to pay
Pattern: Two calls from the same numbers in the same time
Fulfillment / Provisioning
Fulfillment / Provisioning is the automation
process for providing the services to the customer.
The process starting from the customer order
till activation the services on the network and billing.
Provisioning (Cont.)
The Old Manual Process
Customer Service Office Work Order Work Order Copy Shipping PBX Switch
Shipping Customer
Billing System
TE CallCenter Agent
Provisioning (Cont.)
The Automated Process
CRM
Channels: IVR Web Site Call Center Customer Point eTopup Channels
Provisioning
Sub Systems: Network Inventory Service Activation Workforce Management
Network
Billing
Customer
Provisioning (Cont.)
The provisioning process contain of multiple
subsystems organized by a process workflow.
The Provisioning / fulfillment solution can be
implemented as a suite or separated systems integrated together.
The level of automation is dependent on the
implementation of the provisioning systems.
Provisioning (Cont.)
Service Activation
The system who activate the service on the network
element (Switches)
Interact with the different network elements by different
languages & commands
Provisioning (Cont.)
Network Inventory
Holds all detailed information about the network
elements (switches, ports, cables, etc.)
Using this information, the operator can
determine the best way for providing the service. e.g. what is the shortest route to connect two sites using the leased line.
Provisioning (Cont.)
Workforce Management System
Distribute the work orders automatically on the
labor for providing a service or solving a problem.
Distribution can be based on location,
capabilities, tools availability, work load, etc.
Number Portability Management
The Number Portability is the ability for
subscribers to change their service provider (Telecom Operator) without changing their phone numbers.
e.g. Mobinil (012 1234567) Vodafone (012
1234567)
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Management
Systems
NPC: Number Portability Clearinghouse
NPG: Number Portability Gateway
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Clearinghouse (NPC)
Centralized reference database for ported
numbers.
Existing at the Regulator. Mange the portability process between the
Telecom Operators.
Number Portability Management
Number Portability Gateway (NPG)
The interface of Number Portability service at
each Telecom Operator.
Mange the portability process between the
Telecom Operator & NPC.
Number Portability Management
Call Routing Types
1. Indirect
Each call to a ported number should go to the original operator (Donor) and he forward it to the Recipient operator.
Number Portability Management
Call Routing Types
2. Direct
Each operator know where the ported number be and forward the call direct to his new network.
Finally, We Cover
General Concepts
Data Collection Mediation
Billing
SS7 Monitoring Revenue Assurance Fraud Management Fulfillment / Provisioning
Number Portability Management
Thanks to all my colleagues who help me for preparing this presentation.
