The NRTRDE process

Major steps and responsibilities:

Process

Architecture

CDR Creation

Requirement: to have at disposal on the network side all CDRs that should be sent taking into consideration that the files have to be received by partner in 4 hours after the call has been completed

How to proceed?

- Make an itemized inventory of all your network elements which creates the type of records specified in the relevant GSMA PRD FF.18

- Check whether all your network elements provide the records required

- Make sure that the collection process assures that the 4-hour requirement is be met

- If not, contact your network equipment vendor and take actions

As you have probably realized already, the affected records are more or less the same as in case of TAP. Now, the most vital issue that can cause problems is the limited timeframe.

Some operators have foreseen that the network size (extended networks) might be a problem in record collection. In this case the solution is an adequate distributed architecture. If this applies to you too, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it us for more details.

Finally, one more advice: it is very important to make sure that the network management knows about this new requirement, respects it during the operation and takes into consideration each time when a new network element is introduced.

NRTRDE OUT processing

Schematically, at the sender side the process can be split into two major parts: file creation and file transfer. While in the distribution phase operators have several options to decide, on the file creation phase, very similarly to the roaming (TAP) solutions, you have to set up the internal systems, processes and responsibilities.

Technical, business and legal aspects have to be taken into consideration to mark the borderline between tasks that should be done on your site and ones that are recommended to be outsourced to NRTRDE network providers. Similar to TAP file exchange there are several steps to do before your data is ready for distribution. You have to filter visitor records, convert and collate them before distribution - just to mention the most obvious tasks. Diagnostics / error correction

What you can achieve:

With a good system implemented in-house you can be sure that you fully meet the NRTRDE requirements and keep the most vital parts of the process under your control. Besides you can significantly lessen costs - just consider you have to deal with at least 8-10 different file formats that have to be converted to a common format. Network service provider prices depend on complexity of the service - most slightly the license price does not depend on the volume of CDRs.

File Distribution

Requirement: to send the valid NRTRDE files to your partners

How to proceed?

You can distribute the NRTRDE files in two ways:

Direct connections can work but it requires such a cooperation which enables diagnostic and error handling properly. This is enormously resource and time consuming in case of a few hundred partners – be aware that sooner or later all your roaming partners will become NRTRDE partners as well! We recommend choosing file distribution services offered by your contracted data clearing house or call for services provided by the NRTRDE network providers (hubs) newly appeared on the market.

Extra tip: significantly lessen costs if operator groups optimize their file distribution actions by mixing the two solutions: direct distribution within the group and using an NRTRDE network for outside communication.

NRTRDE IN Processing

You need an NRTRDE system to receive the NRTRDE records, charge, convert and load them into the fraud management system. In order to effectively fight against roaming fraud your fraud detection system has to be able to evaluate the incoming data, monitor and take proper procedures to act. The border between the FMS and NRTRDE system is very flexible and should be optimized according to your needs and possibilities. If you do not have fraud detection system opt for a light-weight fraud detection solution.

To protect your revenue you also have to operate an SLA functionality to continuously monitor and subsequently prove if your partners send you the files in time or not.

As in NRTRDE Out direction, also applies that significant cost reduction can be achieved by operating an in-house system.

Fraud Detection

One of the greatest advantages of NRTRDE is the reciprocity. If you send the NRTRDE files in time to your partner the HPMN takes the risk and responsibility for fraud detection. This is why is vital to build up a fraud detection system on receiver side. Let's see two different scenarios:

1. You already have a fraud management system

In this case the best choice is an integrated solution - you have to enable your FMS to handle NRTRDE. If it is feasible within the given deadline, go ahead! Contact your FMS vendor in order to extend the system with the new features required for handling NRTRDE. But if any issues occur that may affect the functionality, price or deadline it is recommended to set up the optimal balance by substituting the necessary functionalities missing from your FMS:

Level of Integration

2. You do not have a fraud management system or cannot enable the existing one to handle NRTRDE

Evaluating the data sent by your NRTRDE partners and monitoring roaming fraud it is a must otherwise you risk that your network will be targeted by fraudsters and became a risk-taker. Since the deadline is close do not start now purchasing a new one or replacing the existing one. Choose a light-weight roaming fraud detection system which focuses squarely on roaming fraud. Allround offers such a complementary system which offers the necessary functionality but it does not intend to replace a full-featured FMS and maintains the upgrade possibility to full-featured FMS.

Service level management (SLA management)

However the goal of the NRTRDE is to minimize risk and clearly set up responsibilities there can occur disputed matters and conflict of interest. For this reason it is vital that parties should be able to prove their rights effectively and with optimal cost. If we say that the NRTRDE is the "third-party insurance", the SLA management is the "Casco insurance" - if investing in the NRTRDE implementation is a must, investing in

The main problem is the lag time between the data exchange and the revenue loss caused by proven fraud. In this case the responsibility is on VPMN to prove several months after the fraud event that the information have had been sent to HPMN in time. A good SLA management functionality smoothly, cost efficiently and effectively provides the accurate information to protect you in two aspects: