prefixes 2G- and 3G- refer to functionality that supports only GSM or UMTS, respectively, e.g. 2G-SGSN refers only to the GSM functionality of an SGSN.

process of apportioning charges between the Home Environment, Serving Network and Subscriber.

record containing one or more counters employed to register the usage of resources en masse. Includes simple event counters and/ or cumulative call second counters.

real-time display of the network utilization charges incurred by the Mobile Station The charges are displayed in the form of charging units. If a unit price is stored by the MS then the display may also include the equivalent charge in the home currency.

combination of one or more services, both basic and supplementary, together with a number of other charging relevant parameters to define a customized service for the purpose of advice of charge.

ability to perform charging on an application basis for network usage based upon application detection.

function whereby CDRs generated by the charging function(s) are transformed into bills requiring payment.

part of the operator network, which is outside the core network, which receives and processes CDR files from the charging functions. It includes functions that can provide billing mediation and billing or other (e.g. statistical) end applications. It is only applicable to offline charging (see "Online Charging System" for equivalent functionality in online charging).

network feature that provides the mechanisms to support operator specific services even when roaming outside HPLMN.

identifies a subscriber as having CAMEL services.

activity utilizing telecommunications network resources and related services for:

• user to user communication (e.g. a single call, a data communication session or a short message); or
• user to network communication (e.g. service profile administration); or
• inter-network communication (e.g. transferring calls, signalling, short messages, interconnection); or
• mobility (e.g. roaming or inter-system handover); or
• user to application/service communication ; and
• that the network operator may want to charge for.

As a minimum, a chargeable event characterises the resource / service usage and indicates the identity of the involved end user(s).

user involved in a chargeable event that has to pay parts or the whole charges of the chargeable event, or a third party paying the charges caused by one or all users involved in the chargeable event, or a network operator.

function within the telecommunications network and the associated OCS/BD components whereby information related to a chargeable event is collected, formatted, transferred and evaluated in order to make it possible to determine usage for which the charged party may be billed (offline charging) or the subscriber's account balance may be debited (online charging).

formatted collection of information about a chargeable event (e.g. time of call set-up, duration of the call, amount of data transferred, etc) for use in billing and accounting. For each party to be charged for parts of or all charges of a chargeable event a separate CDR is generated, i.e. more than one CDR may be generated for a single chargeable event, e.g. because of its long duration, or because more than one charged party is to be charged.

set of charging information forwarded by the CTF towards the CDF (offline charging) or towards the OCS (online charging). Each charging event matches exactly one chargeable event.

domain within GSM / UMTS in which information is transferred in circuit switched mode.

mechanism which directly interacts in real-time with an account and controls or monitors the charges, related to the service usage. Credit-Control is a process of: checking if credit is available, credit reservation, deduction of credit from the end user account when service is completed and refunding of reserved credit not used.

part of a communication network that provides resources using a certain bearer technology.

partial CDR that contains a complete set of the fields specified for the CDR type in the respective middle tier TS. This includes all the mandatory and conditional fields as well as those fields that the PLMN operator has provisioned to be included in the CDR. The first Partial CDR shall be a Fully Qualified Partial CDR.

packet switched bearer and radio services for GSM and UMTS systems.

qualifier indicating that this clause or paragraph applies only to a GSM system. For multi-system cases this is determined by the current serving radio access network.

qualifier indicating that this paragraph applies only to GSM Systems

qualifier indicating that this paragraph applies only to UMTS Systems

process of inter-operator charging between the related operators

change of radio access between different radio access technologies such as GSM and UMTS

term used for the 3GPP charging TSs that specify the domain / subsystem / service specific, online and offline, charging functionality. These are all the TSs in the numbering range from TS 32.250 to TS 32.279, e.g. TS 32.250 for the CS domain, TS 32.260 for the IMS or TS 32.270 for the MMS service. Currently, there is only one "tier 1" TS in 3GPP, which is the present document that specifies the charging architecture and principles. Finally, there are a number of top tier TSs in the 32.29x numbering range ([50]) that specify common charging aspects such as parameter definitions, encoding rules, the common Billing Domain interface or common charging applications.

near real-time charging and billing information is to be generated, processed, and transported to a desired conclusion in less than one (1) minute.

record used to describe an EIR relevant event e.g. a blocklisted IMEI.

charging mechanism where charging information does not affect, in real-time, the service rendered.

the entity that collects and processes offline charging information prior to delivery to the Billing Domain.

charging mechanism where charging information can affect, in real-time, the service rendered and therefore a direct interaction of the charging mechanism with bearer/session/service control is required.

the entity that performs quota management. Its functionality includes transaction handling, rating, online correlation and management of subscriber accounts/balances.

the system that combines the functionalities of the Offline Charging System and the Online Charging System into a single converged system.

domain in which data is transferred between core network elements.

CDR that provides charging information on part of a user session. A long session may be covered by several partial CDRs. Two formats are considered for Partial CDRs. One that contains all of the necessary fields (FQPC); the second has a reduced format (RPC).

real-time charging and billing information is to be generated, processed, and transported to a desired conclusion in less than 1 second.

partial CDRs that only provide mandatory fields and information regarding changes in the session parameters relative to the previous partial CDR. For example, location information is not repeated in these CDRs if the subscriber did not change its location.

payment of amounts resulting from the accounting process.

entity (associated with one or more users) that is engaged in a Subscription with a service provider. The subscriber is allowed to subscribe and unsubscribe services, to register a user or a list of users authorised to enjoy these services, and also to set the limits relative to the use that associated users make of these services.

connection that reaches the communication or data transfer phase e.g. the "answered" state for speech connections. All other connection attempts are regarded as unsuccessful.

part of one (calendar) day during which a particular tariff is applied. Defined by the time at which the period commences (the switch-over time) and the tariff to be applied after switch-over

set of parameters defining the network utilization charges for the use of a particular bearer / session / service.

interconnection scenarios in multi operator environments where one or more transit operators are between the originating and terminating operator.

qualifier indicating that this clause or paragraph applies only to a UMTS system. For multi-system cases this is determined by the current serving radio access network.

entity, not part of the 3GPP System, which uses network resources by means of a subscription. The user may or may not be identical to the subscriber holding that subscription.

device allowing a user access to network services. For the purpose of 3GPP specifications the interface between the UE and the network is the radio interface. A User Equipment can be subdivided into a number of domains, the domains being separated by reference points. Currently defined domains are the USIM and ME Domains. The ME Domain can further be subdivided into several components showing the connectivity between multiple functional groups. These groups can be implemented in one or more hardware devices. An example of such connectivity is the TE - MT interface. Further, an occurrence of a User Equipment is an MS for GSM as defined in TS 24.002.

Interface between an MSC and a BSC.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the Exposure function API CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the Circuit Switched CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the CP data transfer CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the IMS CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the GMLC CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the MMS CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the Monitoring Event CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the OCF CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the Packet Switched CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer for CAMEL services to the BD, i.e. from the SCF CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from SMS CGF to the BD,

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the PoC CGF to the BD.

Reference point for the CDR file transfer from the WLAN CGF to the BD (discontinued in Release 12).

Reference point for CDR file transfer between any (generic) 3G domain, subsystem or service CGF and a BD.

Reference point for CAMEL between a network element with integrated SSF and the OCS.

Reference point for CDR transfer between a CDF and the CGF.

Interface between an SGSN and a BSC.

Interface between an GGSN and an HLR.

Interface between an SMS-GMSC and an SGSN, and between a SMS-IWMSC and an SGSN.

Interface between an SGSN and an EIR.

Interface between the Packet-Switched domain and an external packet data network.

Interface between two GSNs within the same PLMN.

Interface between two GSNs in different PLMNs.

Interface between an SGSN and an HLR.

Interface between an SGSN and an MSC/VLR.

Reference point between a PCRF and a PCEF.

Online charging reference point between a PCEF and an OCS.

Online charging reference point between a TDF and an OCS.

Offline charging reference point between a PCEF and an OFCS.

Offline charging reference point between a TDF and an OFCS.

Interface between the RNS and the core network.

Kilobits per second. 1 kbit/s = 210 bits per second.

Interface between Gateway MLCs.

Megabits per second. 1 Mbit/s = 220 bits per second.

Interface between the MGW and (G)MSC server.

Offline charging reference point between a 3G network element and the CDF.

Service-based interface exhibited by Charging Function.

Service based interface exhibited by NWDAF.

Reference point between the PCF and Converged Charging System.

Online charging reference point between a 3G network element and the OCS.

Reference point between the PCRF and an AF.

Interface between S-GW and P-GW in different PLMNs.

Reference point between the PCRF and a TDF.

Reference point for policy enforcement between OCS and the PCRF.

Reference points for interworking between SCEF and SCS/AS.

Interface between the Mobile Station (MS) and the GSM fixed network part.

Interface between the User Equipment (UE) and the UMTS fixed network part.

Offline charging reference point between a 3GPP WLAN CTF and the CDF (discontinued in Release 12).

Online charging reference point between a 3GPP WLAN CTF and the OCS (discontinued in Release 12).

3rd Generation

3rd Generation Partnership Project

5G Core Network

5G System

5G Direct Discovery Name Management Function

Account Balance Management Function

Application Function

Access and Mobility Management Function

Advice of Charge

Application Program Interfaces

Access Point Name

Application Server

Billing Domain

Breakout Gateway Control Function

Bearer Services

Base Station Controller

Base Station Subsystem

Base Transceiver Station

Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic

CAMEL Application Part

Converged Charging System

Charging Data Function

Charging Data Record

Charging Enablement Function

Charging Gateway

Charging Gateway Function

Charging Function

Core Network

Control Plane

Circuit Switched

Call Session Control Function (I-Interrogating; E-Emergency; P-Proxy; and S-Serving)

Charging Trigger Function

Emergency Access Transfer Function

Event Based Charging Function

Event Charging with Unit Reservation

Edge Enabler Server

Equipment Identity Register

Evolved Packet Core

Evolved Packet Data Gateway

Evolved Packet System

Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network

Fully Qualified Partial CDR

Gateway GPRS Support Node

Gateway MLC

Gateway MSC

General Packet Radio Service

Global System for Mobile communication

GSM Service Control Function

GSM Service Switching Function

GPRS Support Node (either SGSN or GGSN)

Home Location Register

Home PLMN

High Speed Circuit Switched Data

Interconnect Border Control Function

IMS Centralized Services

Information Element

Immediate Event Charging

Internet Engineering Task Force

International Mobile Equipment Identity

IMS GateWay Function

IP Multimedia Subsystem

International Mobile Subscriber Identity

Internet Protocol

IMS Service Control

Integrated Services Digital Network

International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunications standardization sector

Location Area Code

Local Area Network

Location Services

Location Retrieval Function

Long Term Evolution

Mobile Application Part

Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service

Multicast/Broadcast Session Management Function

Management Data Analytics Service

Mobile Equipment

Media Gateway Control Function

Media GateWay

Mobile Location Center

Mobility Management Entity

Man-Machine Interface

Multimedia Messaging Service

Multimedia Messaging Service Environment

MultiMedia Telephony

Mobile Network Operator

Management Service

Mobile Originated

MO Call

Media Resource Function

MRF Controller

Mobile Station

Mobile Services Switching Centre

Mobile Station ISDN number

Mobile Terminated

MT Call

Mobile Virtual Netork Operator

Network Element

Network Function

Network Slice Admission Control Function

Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization Function

Network Data Analytics Function

Online Charging Function

Online Charging System

Offline Charging System

Optimal Media Routing

Policy and Charging Enforcement Function

Policy Control Function

Policy and Charging Rules Function

Packet Data Gateway

Packet Data Network

Packet Data Protocol, e.g. IP

Public Land Mobile Network

Push-to-talk over Cellular

Proximity-based Services

Packet-Switched

Packet-Switched Public Data Network

Quality of Service

Rating Function

Radio Network Controller

Radio Network Subsystem

Reduced Partial CDR

Session Based Charging Function

Signalling Connection Control Part

Service Capability Exposure Function

Service Control FunctionSCS Services Capability Server

Session Charging with Unit Reservation

Serving GPRS Support Node

Subscriber Identity Module

Short Message Service

Session Management Function

Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information

Service Switching Function

Transferred Account Procedure

Traffic Detection Function

Technical Report

Transit and Roaming Function

Technical Specification

Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization Function

Time Sensitive Networking

Time Sensitive Networking Application Function

Trusted WLAN Access Gateway

User Equipment

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

User Plane Function

Universal SIM

Value Added Service

Visitor Location Register

Visited MSC

Visited PLMN

Wireless LAN