Charging system that used by operator to customer can do with several methods. Three methods that a lots used is:
- Service charges
- Flat rate charges
- Combination.
Services charges method is the charging methods that include charging group that depend on duration dependent charging. Component cost that charge to customer with this method is basic rate that total is constant every month (as costumer rate) and total call charge is depend on utilization.
With charges services method, central equipment must completed with metering register equipment for every customer. Conversation pulse meter will increase every succeed call or succeed connection, even though increase or speed of increase depend on parameter:
- Network type that used
- Call time duration
- Data volume that carried
- Telecommunication distance (from caller to called).
The other factor that also influential on how big charges service are:
- Additional services on build connection, i.e. operator assistance.
- Call time, on busy hour period or outside busy hour.
Flat rate charges method is charging method that include on charging group that not depend on time duration (duration independent charging). With this way total cost that charged to costumer is constant every month, so that on central side is do not needed metering pulse equipment.
This method is very favorable, especially for customer that always call with very high intensity or frequency call. In order to go through a loss, the operator is usually charging high flat cost to customer.
On flat rate charging system, costumer usually has an inclination excessive call, because of that the local central should be designed to able handling a high traffic level.
Combination method is charging method that combines charges method services and flat rate. On this method, for total call or pulse every month (or per period), costumer uncharged. Then after total pulses exceed a fixed limit, call will be charge.
