WO2007126350A1 - A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators - Google Patents
A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007126350A1 WO2007126350A1 PCT/SE2006/000526 SE2006000526W WO2007126350A1 WO 2007126350 A1 WO2007126350 A1 WO 2007126350A1 SE 2006000526 W SE2006000526 W SE 2006000526W WO 2007126350 A1 WO2007126350 A1 WO 2007126350A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- network
- operators
- services
- resources
- network resources
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/02—Details
- H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
- H04L12/1442—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications at network operator level
- H04L12/1446—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications at network operator level inter-operator billing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
- H04L41/5041—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
- H04L41/5054—Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
- H04L41/5061—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
- H04L41/507—Filtering out customers affected by service problems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/04—Network management architectures or arrangements
- H04L41/042—Network management architectures or arrangements comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to a method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers.
- the present invention handles resources in a communication network and can be utilized in mainly rural areas using mobile or cellular networks.
- the network infrastructures have further expanded over the years to also cover some less crowded areas, referred to as "rural".
- the incentive for building communication networks in such areas naturally depends on the demands and potential market for services versus the costs for obtaining coverage. Since the less crowded areas are typically also geographically large, a point is eventually reached when the market potential is too small to motivate the costs for building and operating a network with such large geographical coverage. Therefore, a complete coverage is not motivated, and this problem is particularly accentuated in poor rural regions of the world where people live in very primitive circumstances, having very little means to spend on telecommunication.
- 10OA, IOOB and lOOC handle separate mobile networks 102A, 102B and 102C, respectively, serving subscribers 104 with mobile services. It should be noted that the geographical coverage of networks 102A, 102B and 102C are typically overlapping in the main.
- a mobile network requires the installation of base stations with antennas, towers, transceivers, amplifiers, cooling equipment, etc., as well as switching and control nodes, cable links, routers, gateways, processors, databases, etc.
- Considerable work is also required to plan, test and tune the network, necessary to optimise its capacity and avoid interference, among other things. After installation, further expenses must go to operation and maintenance of the network.
- the political, legal and social situation in developing countries is often generally instable and difficult to assess .
- the object of the present invention is to address at least some of the problems outlined above.
- it is an object to provide a solution that can reduce the impediments and entry hurdles for network operators to start providing services involving communication of voice and/or data.
- a method and an apparatus are defined for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators, using a single communication network controlled by an operator-independent network supervisor.
- the operators handle subscriptions and sell the services, whereas the network supervisor provides the services technically.
- the operator which the subscriber belongs to is identified.
- Network resources needed for the requested service are assigned, and the requested service is delivered using the assigned network resources. Further, the amount of network resources consumed is determined after completing the service delivery, and the identified operator of the subscriber is finally charged for the network resources consumed during service delivery.
- the operators are preferably charged for consumed network resources on the basis of communicated data amounts, used bandwidth, and/or connection time.
- Call records or the like may also be supplied to the operators, containing information on how much each subscriber has consumed in terms of communicated data amounts and/or connection time.
- a method and an arrangement are defined for controlling a communication network by an operator-independent network supervisor, in order to provide telecommunication services to subscribers of multiple different operators, said operators handling subscriptions and selling the services, and said network supervisor providing the services technically.
- Resources in the network needed for requested services can be hired out to the operators in order to serve their subscribers. The operators are then charged for any consumed network resources .
- Fig. 1 is a basic overview of a communication scenario, according to the prior art.
- Fig. 2 is a basic overview of a communication scenario, in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for generally providing communication services for subscribers, in accordance with the present invention.
- the present invention provides a solution where plural operators can hire network resources on demand in a single communication network from an operator-independent "network supervisor" controlling said network.
- network supervisor will be used throughout the following description, other suitable terms could be “network manager” or "network owner”, etc.
- the network controlled by the network supervisor can be utilised by all operators active in the region covered by the network.
- the network supervisor may then establish and handle all network resources needed, including installation and maintenance of various components such as, in the case of a mobile network, base station equipment, transmission links, and switching and control nodes.
- the network supervisor may also provide any human resources necessary to keep the network up and running.
- the network supervisor will also obtain and hold a license or permit from the local authorities for radio transmission in a certain frequency spectrum.
- the operators will in turn handle their user subscriptions including individual subscriber billing and the marketing and sales of a selection of services. In poor rural regions, these services should primarily involve the communication of voice and short text messages, e.g. mobile communication using the GSM (Global Systems for Mobile communication) standard. However, other services are naturally also possible such as content delivery, multimedia and Internet applications. Pre-paid or post-paid subscriptions may be employed.
- the network supervisor charges the operators for any used network resources preferably on the basis of communicated data amounts, used bandwidth and/or connection time, i.e. depending on the amount of traffic. In this way, only one communication network is needed for offering telecommunication services from multiple operators, and unnecessary duplication of network components and resources can be effectively avoided. Further benefits and advantages will become evident below.
- the network supervisor basically owns the network, e.g. financed by different stake holders and enterprises such as commercial banks, financial institutions, local investors, charity institutions, etc.
- the operators need not make huge investments in the network itself but can hire various needed network resources from the network supervisor, basically on demand from their subscribers, and preferably on a call basis.
- the economical risks will be shared between the stakeholders and operators involved. Thereby, the hurdles and economical risks for commencing the business of providing telecommunication services to subscribers are significantly reduced for each operator, and it becomes more attractive to establish an operator enterprise in the region. Even though a single network is employed, a healthy competition situation can also come in force by having multiple operators which may further specialize in specific types of services and/or subscriptions .
- the mobile network may use some well- known standard such as GSM, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) .
- GSM Global System for Mobile communications
- GPRS General Packet Radio Service
- WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
- the present solution is not limited to mobile or cellular networks but can be used for other types of networks for telecommunication as well, including fixed broadband access networks, WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) , PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network) , etc.
- controlling should be understood as managing the different physical and human resources needed to technically provide telecommunication services in general, which may include any hardware and software equipment as well as humans.
- mobile operator A utilises certain network resources, schematically denoted 202A, currently needed to serve a set of subscribers 206A being connected to the network 202.
- mobile operators B, C utilise network resources 202B, 202C as illustrated for serving their connected subscribers 206B, 206C, respectively.
- certain types of network resources can be used at the same time by more than one operator, such as some base station equipment, and the shown utilised network resources 202A-C may thus partly overlap. In principle, any resources in the whole network 202, more or less, are generally available for the operators to utilise.
- the subscribers 206A, 206B, 206C can preferably be served at any location within the geographical coverage of network 202, regardless of which operator 200A, 200B or 200C they belong to.
- the present invention does not exclude operators having differentiated geographical coverage, which may be dictated by means of agreement with the network supervisor 204.
- the network supervisor 204 will then charge each operator 200A, 200B and 200C for all the network resources that have been "consumed" for their subscribers, e.g. on a regular basis.
- the network supervisor may charge the operators for used network resources on the basis of communicated data amounts, used bandwidth and/or connection time, which can be constantly measured in the network 202.
- the network supervisor may also supply call records or the like to the operators, containing information on how much each subscriber has consumed in terms of communicated data amounts and/or connection time.
- operators 200A, 200B and 200C will individually charge their subscribers 206A, 206B, 206C, respectively, for any services obtained.
- the skilled person will readily understand that any suitable arrangement for charging subscribers for services may be employed, and the present invention is not limited in this respect.
- Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a series of basic steps performed by a network supervisor, e.g. network supervisor 204 in the example of Fig. 2, when generally providing communication services for subscribers.
- a service request is generally received from a subscriber, e.g. in the form of a registration request, a call request, a content delivery request, etc.
- the identity of the operator to which the subscriber belongs is detected, which should be indicated in the received request above in a suitable manner, depending on the communication protocol used.
- any network resources needed to fulfil the requested service are assigned in the network, e.g. in terms of bandwidth, radio channels, transmission links, transceiver capacity, etc.
- the requested service is generally delivered to the subscriber, e.g. in the form of a voice call connection, transmission of a short text message or other media, or delivery of some desired content, etc., using the assigned network resources.
- service delivery should be understood broadly in this context.
- the amount of network resources consumed for the subscriber during the service delivery in step 304 is determined after completing the service delivery.
- suitable information regarding the delivered service is stored for use in connection with establishing a call record for the subscriber.
- the identified operator of the subscriber is charged in a suitable manner for the network resources consumed during service delivery, as determined in step 306 above.
- the operator is charged on the basis of consumed network resources which are thus hired on demand, i.e. only when needed for fulfilling service requests.
- the operator may be charged on a regular basis for accumulated resource usage, as measured by the network, or when the resource usage exceeds a predetermined limit, or similar.
- step 302 of identifying of the operator can basically be executed at any time between steps 300 and 308.
- the above-described procedure may of course involve further routines such as authenticating the subscriber towards the operator, being subject to any prevailing standards and agreements beyond the general scope of the present invention.
- Charging the operator for hired network resources can be executed in many different ways.
- the operator charges may generally be divided into plural fees: a fixed fee regardless of used network resources, generally matching the financial investments made in the network, e.g. as loans from financial institutes or the like; a base fee matching the utilised services and/or consumed network resources; and an added "traffic fee” matching the overall traffic in the network.
- the latter fee may go to equity holders as a profit part for their investments.
- financing the network may be shared by various stake holders and equity holders such as commercial banks, financial institutions, manufacturers, local investors, charity institutions, development agencies etc.
- a single communication network can be used for offering telecommunication services from multiple operators.
- the costs for establishing and maintaining telecommunication services chiefly in rural and/or poor regions can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary duplication of network components and resources.
- the incentive for operators to enter markets in such regions may thus be greater since they can avoid huge investments in network resources and share the economical risks with others, thus generally improving the business case.
- the tariffs can be kept quite low for rudimentary services, at least to begin with, which will facilitate the establishment of telecommunication in initially weak markets with a poor population.
- the communication traffic can become significant in a relatively short time which will also promote the economical development in general.
- a single network can be made more efficient in terms of capacity and costs than a plurality of separate networks altogether.
- the environmental impact can also be minimised.
- it can be a great advantage, particularly in rural areas, that the power supply is shared by this arrangement, e.g. by means of batteries supported by generators which may be provided by a local third party.
- local enterprises and human resources may be utilised for building the network and its various sites.
- the fast establishment of an infrastructure for telecommunication will promote the general public safety as well as national security and defence.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
- Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
BRPI0621600-5A BRPI0621600A2 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services to subscribers of multiple different operators, and arrangement and method for controlling a communication network |
PCT/SE2006/000526 WO2007126350A1 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators |
CN200680054446.6A CN101433016B (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | For providing the method and apparatus of telecommunications service for the subscriber of multiple different operators |
AP2008004616A AP2341A (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators. |
PE2007000529A PE20080051A1 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2007-04-27 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR SUBSCRIBERS OF MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OPERATORS |
SA7280215A SA07280215B1 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2007-05-01 | A Method And Arrangement For Providing Telecommunication Services For Subscribers Of Multiple Different Operators |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/SE2006/000526 WO2007126350A1 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2007126350A1 true WO2007126350A1 (en) | 2007-11-08 |
Family
ID=38655789
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/SE2006/000526 WO2007126350A1 (en) | 2006-05-02 | 2006-05-02 | A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CN (1) | CN101433016B (en) |
AP (1) | AP2341A (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0621600A2 (en) |
PE (1) | PE20080051A1 (en) |
SA (1) | SA07280215B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007126350A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10009877B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2018-06-26 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Wireless spectrum resource sharing method and base station |
CN113676876A (en) * | 2021-08-25 | 2021-11-19 | 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 | Service sharing method and device |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002028026A1 (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2002-04-04 | Landala Nät Ab | An access point for mobile devices in a packet based network and a method and a system for billing in such a network |
WO2002073993A1 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2002-09-19 | Nokia Corporation | A network and method for sharing radio acess nodes between core networks |
WO2003030491A1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2003-04-10 | Nokia Corporation | Improved interconnection of ip networks |
EP1327934A1 (en) * | 2002-01-15 | 2003-07-16 | Alcatel Canada Inc. | Compartmented multi operator network management |
US20030224781A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-12-04 | Milford Matthew A. | System and method for establishing and controlling access to network resources |
EP1443790A1 (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2004-08-04 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for sharing the capacity in a radio access network |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6101379A (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 2000-08-08 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Mobile terminal based tariff acquisition system for wireless services |
US6968175B2 (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2005-11-22 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for sharing transmission revenue between mobile operators and content providers |
CN100420331C (en) * | 2004-09-04 | 2008-09-17 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method for sharing wireless accessing net by multi operators |
-
2006
- 2006-05-02 WO PCT/SE2006/000526 patent/WO2007126350A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-05-02 AP AP2008004616A patent/AP2341A/en active
- 2006-05-02 BR BRPI0621600-5A patent/BRPI0621600A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-05-02 CN CN200680054446.6A patent/CN101433016B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-04-27 PE PE2007000529A patent/PE20080051A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2007-05-01 SA SA7280215A patent/SA07280215B1/en unknown
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002028026A1 (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2002-04-04 | Landala Nät Ab | An access point for mobile devices in a packet based network and a method and a system for billing in such a network |
WO2002073993A1 (en) * | 2001-03-09 | 2002-09-19 | Nokia Corporation | A network and method for sharing radio acess nodes between core networks |
WO2003030491A1 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2003-04-10 | Nokia Corporation | Improved interconnection of ip networks |
EP1327934A1 (en) * | 2002-01-15 | 2003-07-16 | Alcatel Canada Inc. | Compartmented multi operator network management |
US20030224781A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-12-04 | Milford Matthew A. | System and method for establishing and controlling access to network resources |
EP1443790A1 (en) * | 2003-01-31 | 2004-08-04 | Nokia Corporation | Method and system for sharing the capacity in a radio access network |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10009877B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2018-06-26 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | Wireless spectrum resource sharing method and base station |
CN113676876A (en) * | 2021-08-25 | 2021-11-19 | 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 | Service sharing method and device |
CN113676876B (en) * | 2021-08-25 | 2022-07-29 | 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 | Service sharing method and device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AP2008004616A0 (en) | 2008-10-31 |
BRPI0621600A2 (en) | 2012-10-09 |
CN101433016B (en) | 2015-11-25 |
SA07280215B1 (en) | 2011-06-22 |
AP2341A (en) | 2011-12-21 |
PE20080051A1 (en) | 2008-02-19 |
CN101433016A (en) | 2009-05-13 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CN103370956B (en) | Method and system for dynamic spectrum arbitrage | |
US6434380B1 (en) | Dynamic negotiation of resources for user equipment in wireless communications system | |
US8494483B2 (en) | Method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services | |
CN104106284B (en) | All or part of resource during RAN is shared accesses | |
Sridhar et al. | Flexible spectrum management for mobile broadband services: How does it vary across advanced and emerging markets? | |
CN106028346B (en) | A kind of spectrum auction method of cell | |
CN105075310A (en) | Methods and systems for dynamic spectrum arbitrage | |
Bousia et al. | Sharing the small cells for energy efficient networking: How much does it cost? | |
Moses | Optimization models for minimizing congestion in Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in Nigeria | |
Oikonomakou et al. | Energy sharing and trading in multi-operator heterogeneous network deployments | |
Mamushiane et al. | SDN-enabled infrastructure sharing in emerging markets: Capex/opex savings overview and quantification | |
US20110047011A1 (en) | Incentives to optimize the performance of femto cell groups | |
CN105472707B (en) | A kind of flow sharing method and device | |
WO2007126350A1 (en) | A method and arrangement for providing telecommunication services for subscribers of multiple different operators | |
Prasad et al. | Allocative efficiency of the mobile industry in India and its implications for spectrum policy | |
Markendahl et al. | Network Cooperation Between Mobile Operators-Why and How Competitors Cooperate? | |
Matinmikko et al. | Business benefits of Licensed Shared Access (LSA) for key stakeholders | |
Szydełko | Business model analysis for spectrum sharing with the spectrum broker | |
Bera et al. | Cloud-based optimal energy forecasting for enabling green smart grid communication | |
EP3417642A1 (en) | Method and arrangement for calculation of surplus resources for user, frequency or resource trading | |
Queder et al. | 5G and mobile broadband disruption | |
Markendahl et al. | Company asset analysis of candidates for novel access provisioning | |
Quintanilla Arasa | Project Algarve: How wireless telecommunications infraestructure operators have stablished themselves in Europe: Theoretical framework and case study of Cellnex | |
Faded et al. | Dynamic spectrum access for primary operators: exploiting LTE-A carrier aggregation | |
Nyahoda | Molecular investigation of bovine leukemia virus in selected wildlife in Zambia. |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 06733381 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
DPE1 | Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101) | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 8726/DELNP/2008 Country of ref document: IN |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 200680054446.6 Country of ref document: CN |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 06733381 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: PI0621600 Country of ref document: BR Kind code of ref document: A2 Effective date: 20081023 |