Billing and Charging Evolution

Since 1991 the telecom industry has used the Transferred Account Procedures (TAP) for roaming billing and settlement needs. Although TAP has served the industry well, and is here to stay, the process is too complex and rigid to support future technologies like IoT and 5G.

IDS working group has defined an alternative solution called the Billing and Charging Evolution (BCE) process to serve these industry requirements.

Find out more about BCE below.

Billing and charging evolution (BCE) definition

The BCE process is a simplified and flexible optional settlement method, tailor made for future wholesale roaming settlement needs of operators. The process is driven by new formats like Usage Data Report, Billing Statement Report and Detailed Data Record which together build a robust framework for seamless revenue assurance.

Simplified data flow in BCE process

A horizontal flowchart with five right-pointing arrow shapes. From left to right, arrows are labeled: CDR (white), DDR (blue), UDR (blue), Billing Statement (blue), and Charging Document (blue).

High-Level reporting exchange flow

A flowchart showing data exchange between two providers. On the left, usage data and billing reports are created, leading to charging document creation. The process crosses to the right, where validation, reconciliation, and dispute processes occur for UDR and BSR files.

Benefits of BCE over TAP

Tailor made solution for Wholesale roaming settlement in IoT and 5G
Settle monthly, quarterly, annually or as agreed – no rigid file exchange or settlement windows
End to end process support for most industry charging models – no outside TAP process
More control to operators and lesser outsourcing needs
New standardised reconciliation process – reconcile usage or charge or both
Process extendable to other services like WiFi Roaming and Interconnect

Key implementation considerations

Quite a few operators are finding BCE to meet their requirements of MIoT wholesale roaming billing and some have already started implementing. All key format and process documents are published on Member Gateway (our extranet exclusive to GSMA members) and GSMA continues to work on other supporting documentation like implementation guidelines and handbooks.

BCE Documents
TD.201 Common Billing and Charging Processes
TD.202 Billing and Charging Evolution Reports
TD.204 Reject Dispute Reporting
TD.205 BCE Sample Files
TD.206 Detail Data Records

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