The heart and soul of such a billing system is its rating engine, which allows for processing of calls that are either outgoing from the network, incoming into this network or maybe just transiting from one network to the other. It is the responsibility of the directly connected party, like the DoT, MTNL or one of the Cellular Service Providers, to collect or make payment to other involved parties. These payments would be apportioned by origin, transit and destination parties.

The challenge in such a large and complex project was its Management and building the interfaces between the sub-systems (backward with the Mediation System and forward with SAP Financial Accounting) in such a manner that they seamlessly integrated with each other. While the solution was implemented in Mumbai, the rollout had to be done at all the regional offices of VSNL.

As a lot of components were sourced from partners, ensuring timely delivery of those components had to be tightly coordinated. Tata Infotech had its own resources involved in the implementation of the components, to ensure long-term support after the project was successfully implemented. The critical success factors for such projects are:

• -- The choice of the Interconnect Settlement System - ensuring that the product vendor has a long-term plan for the product and it has been implemented worldwide. This ensures that long-term support is available for the product from the product vendor.
• -- Project Management - Such systems are very complex, and require integration of diverse hardware and software components. The ability of the System Integrator to manage and execute large projects.
• -- User involvement - The users need to be involved right from the development of the specifications to the actual implementation at all locations. This ensures that they take up the ownership once the system is delivered and use the system effectively.

So the next time you get your bill from your Service Provider, think about all the Operators whose networks worked round the clock to ensure the completion of your conversation. For the sudden disconnection any operator in this chain would have been responsible.

A final word of advice: pay your Bills on time and avoid disconnection.

Telephone Bills: You can love them, you can hate them, but you can't ignore them.

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