Understanding the critical role of Online Charging Systems in 5G services and how mobile operators can use real-time billing to deliver smooth customer experiences.
There is a lot of excitement around 5G mobile services. Some operators have already launched 5G services and some are on the verge of launching theirs. There are some new age services using e-sims that are making innovative packaging of the underlying 5G services from MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) and preparing their own value-added 5G services (such as travel e-sims for example).
Whether you are an MNO or an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), if you are offering prepaid packages for 5G mobile services, you are bound to hear terms like 5G OCS and 5G BSS. If you want to know more about these systems and how they could benefit you during your 5G launch, you are at the right place to know more about them.
A critical function that 5G plans depend on, is real time billing. Let us first find out what is real time billing and then more about 5G OCS and 5G BSS systems.
A real time billing is defined as rating and charging of a consumption of a particular service in an online, real time manner. This means deduction of your usage quota in a real time manner. You use some mobile data and your quota is immediately reduced. All your prepaid mobile services are rated and charged real time.
As a mobile services operator who is looking for right systems for launch of their 5G services, you need to find a suitable BSS (Business Support System) provider with an OCS (Online Charging System) offering. Let us find out more about these 2 systems.
A BSS system supports telecom companies on the business side, starting from prospect customer identification and targeting through the CRM system, to converting the target customer as an actual customer and provisioning them on the network, to creating their sales orders, rating and charging their usage, and collecting payments for their consumption.
The traditional BSS systems provided by bigger corporate are not fully up-to-date to support 5G services. They are the big, monolithic, old technology giants who find it difficult to move fast and adapt quickly to technology changes. A 5G BSS system needs to be in sync with the new age technology of the 5G era and cope up with the low latency, high volume traffic seamlessly.
A 5G BSS system needs to adapt to new trends such as management of e-sims, newer network equipment that are used by 5G services, demands of customer self service portals and CRM systems are flexible enough to present more meaningful data outcomes to sales people.
It is becoming more and more difficult for telecom companies to rely on the BSS solutions of the old times and they need to start making transitions to the new age BSS systems to support them in the upcoming era of 5G and 6G.
An Online Charging System rates and charges the consumption of a service in an online, real time manner. An OCS system is an inherent component of the greater BSS solution. In some cases, telecom companies implement billing systems from one vendor and use an OCS system of another, because the original billing system provider does not support them with the OCS function.
Functionally, not much different although there are some differences emerging slowly in terms of rating and charging. However, the real difference between a 4G OCS and a 5G OCS stems from a very low latency and a very volume traffic that 5G represents.
A 4G data service transmits data at the speed of 100 MBPS whereas 5G promises to transmit data at the speed of 1 GBPS. The average speeds at the subscriber level have been found to be 30 MBPS average for 4G and 200 MBPS average for 5G.
What's more? 4G specification is set to increase these data speeds to 1 TBPS, which is insanely high, and can cannot imagine what transformation these data speeds will bring to various industries. Even in average speed of 10 GBPS could bring about huge transformation.
However, one thing is clear: A 5G or a 6G OCS system needs to be upward scalable. The telecom companies need to start making investment into the new age technology and OCS system providers who provide smooth, new technology solutions.
The functional differences in 5G charging are stemming from the fact that mobile plans are becoming more and more flexible, with the advent of add-on data packages, and independent data services not linked to the original plan. For example, if user's quota expires on the original plan but he or she is using an add-on data package, then the data service continues to function without any disruption in the service as long as there is quota available in that package.
Certain e-sim offerings are being provided only with mobile data services. Subscribers do not need calling or text messaging services because they carry out their calls with mobile data using VoIP technology like any internet-based calling app such as Skype or WhatsApp.
Add-on packages allow customers to supplement their existing plans without disruption, ensuring continuous service even when primary quotas are exhausted.
"A 5G OCS system needs to be upward scalable to handle the massive transformation that high-speed data will bring to the telecom industry."
EarnBill stands out as a comprehensive BSS solution that provides a hardened OCS system for 5G services. It fully meets the above mentioned functional and technical requirements to meet the 5G challenge. EarnBill is making a difference and helping organizations succeed in their telco business endeavours.
Designed to handle ultra-low latency requirements of 5G networks with real-time processing capabilities.
Scalable architecture that seamlessly handles the massive traffic volumes of 5G services.
Built with new-age technology stack that adapts quickly to emerging 5G requirements.
Supports complex pricing models including add-on packages and independent data services.
As 5G continues to evolve and 6G development begins, the importance of having a powerful, scalable OCS system cannot be overstated. Mobile operators who invest in modern BSS and OCS solutions today will be well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities that next-generation networks bring.
The transition from legacy systems to new-age platforms is not just a technical upgrade. It's a strategic necessity for staying competitive in the rapidly evolving telecom landscape.
Discover how EarnBill's OCS solution can power your 5G services with smooth real-time billing
