Call Detail Records (CDRs) and Data Records are the basic units by which consumption data are managed to ensure that real-time service consumption is translated into chargeable entities in telecommunication billing. They capture every single instance of service consumption, from a voice call to any data session and any other service usage, detailing when, how long, and through what service use.
The assurance of telecommunication system usage makes each subscriber critical for transparency establishment and fraud detection, leading to accurate charges for services consumed. Without these records, billing accuracy and accountability would collapse, leading to misled consumers and revenue loss.
What are a Call Detail Records(CDR)?
The Call Detail Record (CDR) are characterized as a data file that captures detailed information about telephone calls or communication transactions. This record is generated by the switching or network element technology within data telecommunications systems.
Each Call Detail Record describes the following:
🟢 Originating number (A-party)
🟢 Receiving number (B-party)
🟢 When the call started and ended
🟢 Duration of the call (in sec/min)
🟢 Call type (local, international, roaming, etc.)
🟢 Call status (completed, failed, busy)
🟢 Network element involved in the call
It is always real-time generated, collected by mediation systems and processed for rating and billing.
Structure and Fields in CDRs
Depending on the telecom service provider or system, they differ in the presentation of CDRs since these follow different structures. A few fields are given below:
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Calling Number | Number making an outgoing call |
| Addressed | All those numbers that receive incoming calls |
| Call Start | Timestamp of the call commencement |
| Call End | Timestamp of the call termination |
| Duration | Total hanging time across calls |
| Call Type | Voice, SMS, Roaming, VoIP, etc. |
| IMSI/IMEI | Identifier related to SIM/device |
These records are usually stored or forwarded to the database for billing for further treatment.
Data Records in Telecommunications Billing
Data Records may look very similar to CDRs except they refer specifically to data services like internet use, MMS, video calls, streaming, etc. These are also referred to as UDRs (Usage Data Records) or IPDRs (Internet Protocol Detail Records).
🟢 Uploaded and downloaded data volume
🟢 Data session start and stop timestamps
🟢 Access point names (APN)
🟢 User and destination IP addresses
🟢 Device identifier and application type
In the end, Data Records allows intensive telecom billing for mobile data usage to users via an online mobile platform.
Difference Between CDRs and Data Records?
| Feature | CDRs | Data Records |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Service | Voice calls, SMS | Internet data, MMS, video, etc. |
| Key Metrics | Call duration, start/end time | Data volume, IP sessions, usage time |
| Usage Tracked | Per-call basis | Per-session or per-byte |
| Billing Based On | Call rating, roaming, SMS | Data rating, speed, volume tiering |
| Collected From | Telephony switches | GGSN/PGW, DPI systems |
The life cycle of CDRs and Data Records is characterized by four main stages:
1. Generation
Records are created by automated network elements whenever a call is held or a data session has commenced.
2. Mediation
The next step is mediation, which involves:
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- Normalizing formats
- Filtering duplicates
- Aggregating partial records
- Applying conversion rules
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The processed records are transferred to a rating engine, which applies rate plans for services, calculates charges, and applies discounts and promotions.
4. Billing
Rated records are produced into bills during the billing cycle. The bill can be presented to a customer in itemized form or summary form.
5. Storage and Archiving
These CDRs and Data Records shall be archived for audit, legal, and dispute resolution purposes and are usually kept for a few months or years. Use of CDRs and Data Records in Revenue Assurance and Fraud Detection.
How CDRs And Data Records Are Integrated Inside Telecom Billing Systems
- Convergent Billing: Telecom operators mostly use a convergent billing system, which integrates multiple services (prepaid + postpaid) into one bill. Such customers might require an integrated account for voice call charges (recorded using CDRs) and their data plan charges (recorded using their data records).
- Real-Time Charging: As mobile data comes into play, many telecommunications companies introduce real-time rate charging for phone and data sessions, allowing the system to determine the charges in real time. This helps to eliminate most billing errors and ensures that the right amount is charged to the customers.
- Billing Transparency: The clear recording of both CDRs and records data guarantees transparency for the customer because the customer would see what they are being charged for (e.g., call duration, data consumption by applications, and roaming data consumption). In interconnect billing, CDRs and other data records are used to settle charges between telecom carrier for cross-network usage.
- Global Standard Protocol and Multi-Format Support: Data is expected to come in a variety of formats hence, the system should comply with various standard CDR formats, recognized by global institutions as listed below.
-3GPP CDR Format
-ITU-T CDR Format
-ANSI CDR Format
-ETSI CDR Format
Beyond billing, telecom operators are using the CDRs and Data Records in several other functions:
➡️ Revenue Assurance and Fraud Detection: By analyzing CDRs and data records, telecom companies can detect anomalies, such as unusual call patterns or excessive data usage, that may indicate fraudulent activity.
➡️ Customer support: These are mainly for the easier provision of usage reports regarding the customer’s billing concerns.
➡️ Regulatory Compliance & Auditing: Telecom operators store and process CDRs and data records for legal interception, taxation, and compliance with government regulations.