It is only concerned with those calls that pass between different Communication Providers (CP’s).
Those calls are Interconnect Calls.
The latest digital version is available on Sharepoint at:
VIRGIN MEDIA VOICE INTERCONNECT FOR DUMMIES
This guide covers a wide range of different call scenarios and explains how a voice telephone call gets from one handset to another together with the associated interconnect costs and revenues that ensue.
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V0.4 January 2016
** CONFIDENTIAL **
Contents Cost/Revenue Matrix
3
Ported Calls
Terminating Calls
Ported In Geographic Termination Calls
14
Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media
4
Ported In Non Geographic Termination Calls
15
Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media
5
Ported In Freephone Termination Calls
16
Non Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media
6
Ported Out Geographic Termination Calls
17
Non Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media
7
Ported Out Non Geographic Termination Calls
18
Freephone Call Termination From Virgin Media
8
Ported Out Freephone Calls
19
Freephone Call Termination To Virgin Media
9
Ported In Geographic Transit Calls
20
Ported In Non Geographic Transit Calls
21
Transiting Calls Geographic & Mobile Transit Calls From Virgin Media
10
Ported In Freephone Transit Calls
22
Geographic Transit Calls To Virgin Media
11
Ported Out Geographic Transit Calls
23
Non Geographic Transit Calls From Virgin Media
12
Ported Out Non Geographic Transit Calls
24
Freephone Transit Calls From Virgin Media
13
Ported Out Freephone Transit Calls
25 Other Call Scenarios
2
Virgin Media Owned Directory Enquiries
26
IDA/CPS
27
WLR Usage
28
Glossary
29
Interconnect Cost & Revenue Matrix
WLR Usage IDA/CPS
Virgin Media Owned Directory Enquiries Ported Out Freephone Transit Calls Ported Out Non Geographic Transit Calls Ported Out Grographic Transit Calls
Poerted In Freephone Transit Calls Ported In Non Geographic Transit Calls Ported In Geographic Transit Calls Ported Out Freephone Termination Calls Ported Out Non Geographic Termination Calls Ported Out Geographic Termination Calls Ported In Freephone Termination Calls Ported In Non Geographic Termination Calls
3
Conveyance rate
Ported In Geographic Termination Calls Freephone Transit Calls From Virgin Media Non Geographic Transit Calls From Virgin Media Geographgic Transit Calls To Virgin Media Geographic & Mobile Transit Calls From Virgin Media Freephone Call Termination To Virgin Media Freephone Call Termination From Virgin Media Non Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media Non Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media
Transit Revenue
Management rate
APCC Revenue
APCC Cost
Transit Cost
Service Charge Revenue
Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media
Service Charge Cost
Termination Revenue
Termination Cost
GEOGRAPHIC CALL TERMINATION (01,02,03) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media’s subscriber dials a number belonging to another Rangeholder with whom we have a direct interconnection (e.g. BT, SKY, TalkTalk)
Originating CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder (Other CP) Other CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate
Caller pays retail call charge
03 is a non geographic number service but from an interconnect and retail perspective is treated the same as a geographic call for terminating and transitting calls. Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
4
GEOGRAPHIC CALL TERMINATION (01,02 and 03) TO VIRGIN MEDIA Other CP’s subscriber dials a number belonging to Virgin Media and with whom there is a direct interconnection (e.g. BT, SKY, TalkTalk)
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
OTHER CP) Virgin Media charges Other CP a call termination rate Caller pays retail call charge
There is a big difference in the termination rate between Fixed Line and Mobile call termination
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
5
NON GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (084, 087, 09, 118) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media’s subscriber dials a number belonging to a CP with whom we have a direct interconnection (e.g. BT, SKY, Talk Talk)
Originating CP (Virgin Media)
Terminating CP (Rangeholder)
(Retains the NAC Terminating CP charges Virgin Media the Service Charge Caller pays a Service Charge + Network Access Charge (NAC)
Each NGN is assigned a Service Charge Code. Each Code has a specific price point.
There are only 80 Service Charge Codes and therefore only 80 Price Points. This is planned to rise to 100 during 2016 Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
6
NON GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (084, 087, 09) TO VIRGIN MEDIA Originating CP’s subscriber dials a number belonging to Virgin Media and we have a direct interconnection with them (e.g. BT, SKY, TalkTalk)
Terminating CP (Virgin Media)
Originating CP (Retains The NAC) Virgin Media charges Originating CP the Service Charge
118 Numbers that terminate on Virgin Media’s network are explained in the DQ section of this guide.
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
7
Caller pays a Service Charge + Network Access Charge (NAC)
FREEPHONE TERMINATION (0800, 0808) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media’s subscriber dials a number belonging to a CP with whom we have a direct interconnection (e.g. BT, SKY, TalkTalk)
Originating CP Virgin Media
Virgin Media charges the Terminating CP a Freephone Origination rate
Terminating CP (Rangeholder)
Service Provider pays the Terminating CP a retail charge
Caller does not pay for this call
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
8
FREEPHONE TERMINATION (0800, 0808) TO VIRGIN MEDIA Other CP’s subscriber dials a number belonging to Virgin Media and we have a direct interconnection with them (e.g. BT, SKY, Talktalk)
Terminating CP Virgin Media
Originating CP charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination Rate.
Originating CPr)
Caller does not pay for this call
Service Provider pays the Terminating CP a retail charge Since July 2015 these calls are even free to mobile subscribers.
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
9
GEOGRAPHIC & MOBILE TRANSIT (01,02,03,07) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media subscriber dials a number belonging to a carrier with whom there is not a direct interconnection (or Virgin Media choose not to use it for commercial or technical reasons). This is the usual mechanism for getting calls to small carriers and where capacity is full on our directs or it is not commercially viable.
Transit Carrier (Keeps the transit charge)
Terminating CP Originating CP Virgin Media) Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
10
GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (01,02,03) TO VIRGIN MEDIA Other CP’s subscriber dials a number that belongs to Virgin Media but does not have a direct interconnection, or for technical / commercial reasons chooses not to use it.
Transit Carrier (Keeps the transit charge)
Originating CP (Transit Carrier)
Terminating CP (Virgin Media) Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
11
Caller pays retail call charge
NON GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (084, 087, 09, 118) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media’s subscriber dials a number belonging to a carrier with whom there is not a direct interconnection (or Virgin Media choose not to use it for commercial or technical reasons). This is the usual mechanism for getting calls to small carriers and where capacity is full on our directs.
Call Direction Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
Transit Carrier Usually BT (Retains the Transit Charge)
Terminating CP
Originating CP Virgin Media
For Geographic calls, the originating CP pays the transit rate. For Non Geographic calls, the terminating CP pays the transit rate
(Retains the NAC)
Caller pays a Service Charge plus Network Access Charge (NAC) 12
FREEPHONE TRANSIT (0800, 0808) FROM VIRGIN MEDIA Virgin Media’s subscriber dials a number belonging to a carrier with whom there is not a direct interconnection (or Virgin Media choose not to use it for commercial or technical reasons). This is the usual mechanism for getting calls to small carriers and where capacity is full on our directs
Transit Carrier (Keeps the transit charge)
Terminating CP
Originating CP (Virgin Media) Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost
Caller does not pay for this call
Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
13
Service Provider pays the Terminating CP a retail charge
PORTED IN GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (01,02) Rangeholder’s subscriber moves their Geographic number to Virgin Media and there is a direct interconnection between the two.
Someone calls a number that was originally on Other CP’s network (irrespective of who’s subscriber it is.)
Rangeholder adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
Terminating CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder Virgin Media charge Rangeholder a termination rate
Rangeholder charges Virgin Media an APCC
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
14
Caller pays retail call charge
PORTED IN NON GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (03, 084, 087, 09) Rangeholder’s subscriber moves their number to Virgin Media and there is a direct interconnection between the two.
Rangeholder adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
Terminating CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder
Someone calls a number that was originally on Rangeholder’s network.
Virgin Media charges Rangeholder a Service Charge
Virgin Media pays Rangeholder an APCC
Caller pays a Service Charge plus a Network Access Charge (NAC)
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
15
PORTED IN FREEPHONE TERMINATION (0800, 0808) Rangeholder’s subscriber moves their Freephone number to Virgin Media and there is a direct interconnection between the two.
Someone calls a number that was originally on Rangeholder’s network (irrespective of who’s subscriber it is.)
Rangeholder adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
Terminating CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder Rangeholder charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination rate
Service Provider pays the Rangeholder a retail charge
Rangeholder charges Virgin Media an APCC
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
16
Caller does not pay for this call
PORTED OUT GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (01,02) Virgin Media’s subscriber moves their number to another CP and there is a direct interconnection and porting arrangement between the two.
Someone calls a number that was originally on Virgin Media’s network
Virgin Media adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Recipient CP
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
Recipient CP Recipient CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate
Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APC
Virgin Media get the retail charge unless the call is not originated on Virgin Media’s network. In that case the caller’s retail charge will not get passed on.
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
17
(Terminating CP)
PORTED OUT NON GEOGRAPHIC TERMINATION (03, 084, 087, 09) Virgin Media’s subscriber moves their number to another CP and there is a direct interconnection and porting arrangement between the two.
Virgin Media adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Recipient CP
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
Recipient CP (Terminating CP)
Receipient CP charges Virgin Media a Service Charge
Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APCC Virgin Media get the retail charge unless the call is not originated on Virgin Media’s network. In that case the caller’s retail charge will not get passed on.
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
18
PORTED OUT FREEFONE TERMINATION (0800,0808) Virgin Media’s subscriber moves their Freephone number to another CP and there is a direct interconnection and porting arrangement between the two.
Someone calls a number that was originally on Virgin Media’s network
Virgin Media adds a ported number prefix and passes the call to Recipient CP
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
Caller does not pay for this call
Recipient CP Recipient CP charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination rate Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APCC
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
19
(Terminating CP)
Service Provider pays the Recipient CP a retail charge
PORTED IN GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (01,02) Subscriber from another CP moves their number to Virgin Media, but there is no direct porting arrangement the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
Transit Carrier (BT)
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to the Rangeholder Rangeholder adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT Caller pays retail call charge
Recipient CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder
Terminating CP
Virgin Media charges the Rangeholder a call termination rate
Call Direction Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue
Cost or Revenue for Another CP
The Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC 20
PORTED IN NON GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (03, 084, 087, 09) Subscriber from another CP moves their number to Virgin Media but there is no direct porting arrangement between the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
Transit Carrier (BT) Other CP adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT
Recipient CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder
Terminating CP
Rangeholder claims back the ported transit rate from Virgin Media
Virgin Media charges Rangeholder a Service Charge Call Direction Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue
Cost or Revenue for Another CP
Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC 21
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to Other CP. The subscriber pays a Service Charge plus Network Access Charge.
PORTED IN FREEPHONE TRANSIT (0800,0808) Subscriber from another CP moves their number to Virgin Media, but there is no direct porting arrangement the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Virgin Media
BT (Transit Carrier)
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to Other CP Other CP adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT Caller does not pay for this call
Recipient CP (Virgin Media)
Rangeholder
Terminating CP
Service Provider pays the Terminating CP a retail charge
Rangeholder charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination rate Call Direction Virgin Media Cost
Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC 22
Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
PORTED OUT GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (01,02) Subscriber from Virgin Media moves their number to another CP but there is no direct porting arrangement between the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to Virgin Media Virgin Media either charge a retail rate to the caller, or a termination rate to the Rangeholder
Virgin Media adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT
BT (Transit Carrier) BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Other CP
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
Recipient CP
Terminating CP
Receipient CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate
Call Direction Virgin Media Cost
Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP APCC
Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
23
PORTED OUT NON GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (03, 084x, 087x, 09) Subscriber from Virgin Media moves their number to another CP but there is no direct porting arrangement between the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
BT (Transit Carrier)
BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Recipient CP
Virgin Media adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
Recipient CP
Terminating CP
Recipient CP charges VM Service Charge
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to Virgin Media . The subscriber pays a Service Charge plus Network Access Charge which is retained by the Network Provider.
Virgin Media claims back ported call transit rate from Recipient CP Call Direction Virgin Media Cost
Virgin Media charge Recipient CP APCC
Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
24
PORTED OUT FREEPHONE TRANSIT (0800,0808) Subscriber from Virgin Media moves their number to another CP but there is no direct porting arrangement between the two so they have to transit traffic via BT
Someone dials a number which was originally allocated to Virgin Media
Virgin Media adds ported number prefix and passes call to BT
BT (Transit Carrier) BT reads the ported number prefix and passes the call to Other CP
Caller does not pay for the call
Recipient CP
Rangeholder (Virgin Media)
(Terminating CP)
Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP the Freephone Origination rate
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost
Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP APCC
Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
25
Service Provider pays the Recipient CP a retail charge
Virgin Media Owned Directory Enquiries (118120, 118180,118770,118878,118003,118190) Virgin Media owns 6 DQ numbers. They are hosted on BT’s network and Virgin pay BT a rate for each call their call centre staff answer on our behalf.
Call Direction
OTHER CP Other CP subscriber dials a Virgin Media DQ number. They pay a Service Change plus a Network Access Charge
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue
(Retains the NAC)
Cost or Revenue for Another CP
Other CP pays Service Charge to BT but as it is a Virgin Media number, BT pass that onto us.
BT (Managed Service)
Virgin Media Pays BT the Service Charge, which is then added to Other CP’s Service Charge Payments and paid back to Virgin Media
Virgin Media (Rangeholder)
Virgin Media Subscriber dials a Virgin Media DQ Number. Calls to 118180 & 118878 are free to Virgin Media Customers
Virgin Media pay BT a management fee for every call they answer on our behalf. Some calls are “onward connected” by the operator. 118180 and 118878 26 calls do not attract an onward connect fee. The other numbers do.
26
IDA/CPS (All Number Ranges with a Virgin Media Prefix) Subscriber uses the BT Network to connect calls via the Virgin Media Network, after which they are seen as Virgin Media Calls. IDA routes calls at the subscriber premise, CPS routes calls at the switch but the principle for both scenarios is the same. IDA/CPS is mainly (but not always) associated with customers who have the WLR product. Subscriber wishes to use the Virgin Network to place calls (usually as they get a tariff better suited to their needs)
Rangeholder (Virgin Media) The call is now seen as a Virgin Media Originated Call
Other CP
Other CP charges Virgin Media a conveyance rate for passing the call to them.
Prefix is added to denote the call is to go to the Virgin Media Network for onward connection, or termination.
Shortcode calls always go
via BT for IDA/CPA WLR Usage
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
27
If there is a delay between WLR being provisioned and IDA/CPS being activated, the call follows the WLR usage flow
WLR USAGE (All Number Ranges) Some Virgin Media Customers take a product called WLR. This is a line that we rent from BT and resell to them. A subset —mainly on legacy tariffs—have a WLR product but do not have IDA/CPS calls. BT deal with, and charge for, all of these calls on our behalf at an interconnect level. Virgin Media bill those calls at a retail level to the customer.
These calls are not passed to the Virgin Media Network and are dealt with completely by BT
Virgin Media bill the subscriber for these calls at retail level
Customer has WLR product but not IDA/CPS
BT
BT send a daily file of data to Mediation itemising all the calls made and a monthly backup file itemising interconnect costs to Wholesale Settlement
Virgin Media pays BT their interconnect rates for dealing with the calls on our behalf.
Call Direction
Virgin Media Cost Virgin Media Revenue Cost or Revenue for Another CP
28
Virgin Media
Glossary POLO
BT Terminology for Payments made to Other CP
Average Porting and Conveyance Charge
Ported Number
A phone number that a subscriber has kept when they have moved service to a new supplier
Calls & Margins
A Virgin Media Business Objects Universe used for reporting. Also known as C&M
Range Holder
Communications Company originally allocated a block of phone numbers (of typically 10,000) by OFCOM for retail sale.
Carrier
A Communications Provider
Regulated
An Interconnect charge rate that is set by OFCOM
ROLO
BT Terminology for Revenue from Other CP
Service Charge
The portion of an NGCS call which is passed to the rangeholder
AERO
BT’s charge for getting an NGCS call from their customer to a point on their network that interconnects with another CP
APCC
Communications Provider (CP)
A company licenced by OFCOM to supply telephony services.
Conveyance The charge that BT make for taking a call from one part of their network to another. DEDS
BT Reporting System
DQ
Directory Enquiries
INTEC
Virgin Media Interconnect Billing System (also known as InterconnecT)
SNGN
Simplified Non Geographic Numbering
Mediation
The process by which data which has been harvested from a switch, is post processed for downstream services (typically Rating and Billing.)
Switch
A computer which collects a telephone call and reviews it against a set of rules to determine where to send it.
Network Access Charge
The charge a CP makes to it’s subscriber for providing access to NGSC services. Typically a Non Geographic Call will attract a Network Access charge which is retained by the subscriber’s CP and a Service Charge which is passed to the CP who owns the number being called.
Tandem
A measure of how many hops across the BT network a call takes
NGCS
Non Geographic Call Service
OFCOM
UK Communications Regulator
Termination A call’s destination
29
Transit
A stepping stone from a call’s origination to it’s termination
TWIX
BT Terminology for Call Transit Charge