Online charging system
Online charging system
An Online Charging System (OCS) lets telecom operators bill customers in real time based on how they use services. It handles charging as users use the network, ensuring charges are accurate and immediate.
There are two main ways an OCS charges:
1) Event-based charging: Customers are charged for individual events, such as sending a text message or buying content (apps, games, music, video). These are one-time charges that occur when the event happens.
2) Session-based charging: Customers are charged for ongoing sessions, like voice calls or data sessions, based on how long the session lasts or how much is used. This is like metered charging for utilities.
The system also includes account and balance management, which tracks a subscriber’s balance and updates it as charges occur.
See also: Diameter Credit-Control Application (DCCA).
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 22:51 (CET).