CSG International : 6 Reasons Mobile Network Operators Need BCE Roaming Settlements

Flexibility and control.

BCE is more flexible and less prescriptive than TAP, allowing operators to define their wholesale bilateral roaming agreements, such as:

• Data exchange frequency
• Settlement windows (monthly, quarterly, annually or bespoke)
• How to manage financial transactions efficiently

Increased process efficiency.

BCE reduces the need for frequent data exchanges (mandated under TAP), saving operators time and money. Reduced data exchange is especially valuable when dealing with data-intensive services such as IoT, 5G SA roaming and permanent roaming (e.g., IoT devices).

Support for new 5G and IoT services.

BCE is essential for 5G SA Roaming. BCE supports a range of charging and settlement models, including count-based (e.g., IMSI count) and volume-based charging.

Automated reconciliation.

BCE enables accurate and timely reconciliation of charges between operators for roaming services. Operators reconcile invoices against home-generated event records (EDRs) for events happening in the visited network, preventing unnecessary outpayments and speeding up dispute resolution. Home-generated EDRs can be promptly passed on to Fraud Management and other downstream systems without waiting for data from the visited network. 

Reduced costs through decreased reliance on clearing houses.

With BCE, home routing of roaming events means that operators can settle directly, reducing clearing house scope and associated fees.

Reduced costs through reusing an existing settlement system.

Because wholesale roaming settlement with BCE is very similar to traditional intercarrier settlement and reconciliation processes, operators can reuse core functionalities from their existing settlement systems for roaming settlement. Operators thus save money by reducing their software and hardware footprint.