Vodafone

The Challenge

Being able to offer subscribers geographically widespread services is crucial for mobile phone companies operating in today’s highly competitive marketplace. Interconnection with other carriers’ networks is an increasingly complex business, and one that is subject to ever-changing legislative requirements. Interconnection also represents one of the largest operating costs for mobile phone companies, making the accurate rating, billing and settlement of interconnect charges a priority.

This was the scenario facing Vodafone, which was still settling its interconnect charges using a basic ledger system. However, the scale of the sums involved led Vodafone to recognise that they needed a modern, advanced settlement system that would check invoices and calculate bills with absolute precision. Another of its key requirements was the ability to monitor and record data about every call made via its own and its interconnect partners’ networks. The new settlement system would also have to meet new legislative requirements, such as support of number portability.

The Solution

Vodafone selected Fujitsu for its ability to provide a solution that could verify interconnect settlement bills and produce accurate bills and to access very detailed network traffic data. Vodafone was also attracted to the solution’s flexibility, scalability and speed. Its ability to handle growing numbers of calls meant it promised the ability to match any growth experienced by the mobile telecoms provider in future years.

Following initial consultancy and an assessment of customer enquiries, Vodafone signed a contract with Fujitsu to provide consultancy and install interconnect settlement software which is fully integrated with existing systems including those handling external feeds to other carriers. The project included the provision of ongoing support to Vodafone and the capability to implement change controls (including new interconnect agreements and changes to existing agreements).

In the future, Vodafone wants to use the interconnect settlement software to monitor and collate data about calls made via the latest generation of GSM mobile phones to access Internet information. Fujitsu has been able to provide consultancy on the best way to meet this need and that of providing TAP3 (Transfer Accounting Procedure) files for clearing house services. This will lead to offerings of other software solutions to help Vodafone deliver its business.

The Benefits

Greater accuracy when settling bills: Detailed information on mobile phone calls using subscribers’ networks enable Vodafone to check its interconnect bills with absolute precision, avoid being overcharged, resolve settlement disputes and provide interconnect partners with accurate bills
Increased interconnect profits: Easy access to more data about its network traffic has put Vodafone in a better position to maximise revenue and reduce costs, by implementing least cost routing and striking better deals with its interconnect partners
More efficient staff: "Getting the information you want out of the system is much faster than ever before", says Mr Eijkelenburg. For example the forecasting department can monitor incoming network traffic and make more accurate forecasts of future network capacity; the finance department can implement interconnection cost savings
Better marketing decisions: Now that Vodafone has more traffic data available and a better understanding of its cost base, it has been able to simplify the tariffs it charges its customers, especially for international calls.

The Implementation

Vodafone was delighted with Fujitsu’s speedy and efficient implementation of the interconnect settlement software: the new system was up and running within five months. "Fujitsu was very agreeable and very professional to work with, and the overall implementation of the project was to our satisfaction", says Mr Grannetia, Team Leader, Billing Control at Vodafone. "All of the requirements which we set at the start of the project were met on Fujitsu’s side." For example, one of Vodafone’s key requirements was for the new interconnect solution to be tailored to support special rate numbers: Fujitsu added an interface process to meet Vodafone’s exact needs.

The Partnership

Vodafone chose Fujitsu for a number of key reasons Fujitsu’s extensive experience of the Dutch telecommunications marketplace. Fujitsu has serviced strategic telecommunications customers in Holland for 15 years and could thus offer a very good understanding of the local regulatory requirements that operators have to meet, such as support for number portability The interconnect settlement solution proposed by Fujitsu was already successfully being deployed at Energis Carrier Services (ECS), the wholesale division of Energis. It was also a popular choice with local Dutch telecomms providers- including Enertel, a landline telecoms company (now part of Energis) which and the Dutch PTT, KPN Telecom.

Fujitsu offered the business knowledge, the consultancy expertise and the development capabilities required to understand Vodafone’s requirements fully, customise the product interfaces to match its needs and continue to provide comprehensive advice as its business changes.

"Fujitsu was incredibly flexible to work with and this project was characterised by teamwork throughout. The way in which the system was implemented was very straightforward and what we have now is a solution which we can support by ourselves - we don’t need to rely on external people to do this", adds Mr Van Eijkelenburg.

"Fujitsu was incredibly flexible to work with and this project was characterised by teamwork throughout. Since then, whenever we have asked questions, the response times have been very fair."

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