Most of the worlds 2 billion mobile subscribers are on a prepaid system for both voice and messaging services.

This service relies on the advanced signaling technologies that include multiple connection and transaction protocols including MAP, ISUP, BICC and CAMEL. The Pre Paid Service in GSM offers a quick and easy solution to cashless calling and ensures the service provider and the network operator the guaranteed payment for the calls because a service subscriber pays in advance for his calls. For a prepaid service the subscriber pays a certain amount in advance to his prepaid account. He is subsequently able to make calls for this amount without having to pay a (monthly) basic fee. The charging of prepaid type services is performed on-line at the SCP of the IN platform. The calculation of the applicable tariff is based on a tariff model, which incorporates certain parameters such as date and time, originating/terminating network operator, origination and destination of the call or the dialled number. Thus prepaid service is a lucrative business and ideally suited as a mass service. An intelligent network (IN) is a service-independent telecommunications network. Intelligence is taken out of the switch and placed in computer nodes that may be placed anywhere in the network. This separation provides the network operator with the means to develop and control services more efficiently. New capabilities can be rapidly introduced into the network. Once introduced, services are easily customized to meet individual customer's needs. An IN infrastructure typically involves service logic on network platforms, CCS7 signalling system and IN-capable software in the network switch. With this infrastructure in place, service providers, end users and third parties can, in theory, create and modify services independently of switch vendors.

Main steps in charging a pre-paid call in a fixed line network:

When a pre-paid subscriber makes a call, it arrives at MSC. The local exchange looks at the calling number (A-party), and finds that it is a call made by a pre-paid customer. So, it cannot connect the call straight away as it would have done for a post paid customer.

The MSC has to now talk to a pre-paid platform. The MSC sends a message to the pre-paid platform informing it of the A-party number and the B-party number.

This message is received by a component of the pre-paid platform called the Service Control Point (SCP). SCP is nothing but a software module that understands and receives messages sent by the MSC.

On receiving the message from the MSC, the SCP communicates with a Rating Engine, which is the second component of the pre-paid platform. The rating engine is

the heart of the pre-paid platform. As tariff plans get more complex and more services need to be charged, the rating engine must have flexibility and functionality to meet the business requirements.

It contains in its database, the current balance of all the pre-paid customers. Since there are hundreds and thousands of customers served by a single pre-paid platform, the rating engine will contain a large number of customer balance records.

The rating engine looks at the A-party number and then queries its database to find out the current balance of the A-party. If the A-party has zero or insufficient balance, then it must inform the SCP that the calling customer has insufficient balance.

The SCP in turn will send a message to the MSC informing it that the calling party has insufficient balance.

The MSC rejects the call. If however, the rating engine finds that the calling party has sufficient balance, then via the SCP, the MSC is informed that the call can proceed.

If the balance of the calling party is zero, then no further analysis is required by the rating engine to reject the call. However it has to check by looking at the B-party number if the balance is sufficient to support the minimum rate of the call pulse.

Assuming that the balance was sufficient and the pre-paid platform has allowed the call to proceed, then the MSC will allow the call to proceed and the call will be eventually connected via one or more MSCs to the called subscriber whose phone will ring.

If the call is abandoned for any reason like the calling party abandoning the call before it is answered by the B-party, no answer by B-party etc, then the MSC must again send a message to the SCP informing it that the call has not matured.

The rating engine had at the time of allowing the call reserved a certain amount from the subscribers balance. For example the amount that would have been reserved depends upon the tariff plan of the customer. To avoid frequent requests for the reservation of amount, the rating engine may be asked to grant a larger chunk of units from the balance.

As an example, assume that the calling party had a balance of Rs 100 when the call was made. When the message reaches the pre-paid platform, the rating engine on finding that there is enough balance will not only respond to the MSC about the sufficiency of the balance as described above, but also reserve an amount, say Rs 5. Therefore, temporarily the balance reduces to Rs 95. It is important to understand that

reserving an amount is not equivalent to actually reducing the balance of the calling party. At this time, the reservation only signifies the intent, and actual deduction would happen only if the call is successful and usage takes place.

When the call is answered, the deduction will happen periodically from the reserved amount of Rs 5. The deduction and the periodicity of deduction ultimately depend upon the tariff plan which the calling party has subscribed to. Assuming that the call charges are 50 paise per minute, this reserved amount of Rs 5 would be enough for 10 minutes of conversation. This is the validity time.

At the time of informing the MSC that the calling party has sufficient balance and the call can be connected, the validity time is also conveyed by the SCP. Thus, the MSC knows that if this call matures, it can let the call continue for the first 10 minutes without again contacting the pre-paid platform.

If the conversation ends is less than 10 minutes, for example the call duration is just 3 minutes, the MSC sends a message to the charging platform and only Rs 1.5 will be deducted by the pre-paid platform at the end of the call. The remaining Rs 3.5 is returned to the account balance of the calling party. His closing balance will now be Rs 8.5.

Assuming that the conversation exceeded 10 minutes, the MSC sends another request to reserve more units. This has to be done prior to the expiry of the validity time. The pre-paid platform will reserve another chunk of USD 5 and inform the MSC accordingly.

It may happen that the unit reservation request fails. This will happen when the subscriber has no units left in his balance. In such a scenario, the pre-paid platform will respond with a message that informs the MSC that the credit limit is reached. The MSC will then immediately terminate the call.

In addition to the above process, following modules are added and become an important part of the IN system for GSM pre-paid network

Service Management Point (SMP):

The SMP performs the management functions for the IN platform. For example, all the prepaid customers must be recorded in the IN platform along with their initial balance. This is typically called the provisioning of customers. This task is performed by the SMP. The SMP will typically have local terminals where operators can do this task through a set of commands called the command line interface (CLI). There may also be a need to periodically delete (de-provision) customers who have left the pre-paid service provided by the operator. It will also be connected to a voucher management system from where commands will flow to the SMP for bulk provisioning of customers so that a large number of customers can be simultaneously provisioned in the pre-paid system.

Voucher Management System: The Voucher Management System (VMS) allows prepaid subscribers recharge their accounts using pre-paid vouchers, allowing operators to run widely distributed dealer networks efficiently and easily. VMS allows subscribers to add funds to their accounts within the home network or in roaming networks regardless of location, time of day or model of phone. VMS cuts down administrative, bookkeeping and servicing expenses and makes it easy for subscribes to keep track of their account balance without service centres. Features of a VMS are as follows: Account recharging via voice services The Voucher Management System allows subscribers to recharge their accounts from their own telephone as well as from any tone-dial phone.

Account recharging via non-voice services Subscribers can top up their own accounts, as well as the account of any other subscriber of the same network, by sending an SMS request with a PIN code to a service number. Accounts can also be recharged from a special websites of the carrier.

Account recharging via operator

Subscribers can recharge their accounts via call centre operators. Distributed system The prepaid card system allows distributed systems with card roaming to be built, giving your subscribers the ability to recharge their accounts while in roaming. Blocking The Voucher Management System can bar a specific telephone number from accessing the service after several consecutive unsuccessful attempts to enter a PIN code from that number, protecting you from fraud. Advertising Additional profit can be generated from placing adverts on cards, and can also be a useful marketing tool for the operator, for example to advertise new services. Card Status Information about card usage (transactions made) is recorded automatically in the operators billing system.