Description
The Business to Business (B2B) framework in 3GPP is a comprehensive system for managing financial transactions and service settlements between distinct business entities within the telecommunications ecosystem. It operates within the broader context of the 3GPP charging architecture, specifically defined in the Telecommunication Management (TM) series of specifications, including TS 28.843, TS 32.101, TS 32.140, and TS 32.141. The framework provides the protocols, data models, and procedures necessary to track service usage, calculate charges, and generate settlement records for inter-operator services.
Architecturally, B2B interfaces with core network functions like the Charging Data Function (CDF) and Charging Gateway Function (CGF) to collect usage data. It extends the standard charging mechanisms to handle scenarios where the service consumer and service provider are separate legal or commercial entities. The system employs specific B2B charging records that contain fields identifying the involved parties, the type of service, usage quantities, applicable tariffs, and settlement amounts. These records are formatted according to 3GPP standards (like ASN.1 encoding) and transmitted via standardized interfaces to billing systems for processing.
Key components of the B2B framework include the B2B Charging Function, which correlates usage events from the network to specific business agreements; the Settlement Function, which calculates the financial obligations based on negotiated tariffs and service level agreements (SLAs); and the B2B Mediation Function, which adapts charging data records (CDRs) into settlement-compatible formats. The framework supports various settlement models, including wholesale, revenue sharing, and fee-for-service arrangements. It integrates with offline and online charging systems (OFCS and OCS) to provide real-time credit control for B2B services when required.
The role of B2B in the network is to enable the commercial layer that sits atop technical service delivery. Without it, operators would lack a standardized, automated way to bill each other for roaming, interconnection, MVNO services, or API-based services. It ensures that revenue flows correctly between partners, disputes can be resolved via auditable records, and new business models can be deployed rapidly. The framework is essential for the ecosystem's economic sustainability, allowing operators to monetize their networks and services when consumed by other businesses rather than end-users directly.
Purpose & Motivation
The B2B framework was created to address the growing complexity of commercial relationships in the telecommunications industry. As mobile networks evolved beyond simple voice services, operators began offering wholesale access, roaming agreements, and partnership services that required robust inter-operator settlement mechanisms. Prior to standardized B2B systems, operators relied on bilateral agreements and manual processes for billing each other, which were error-prone, slow, and difficult to scale. The lack of automation hindered the development of new services and created reconciliation challenges.
Historically, the introduction of GSM roaming highlighted the need for automated settlement, but early systems were often proprietary. With 3G and the rise of data services, the volume and variety of inter-operator transactions exploded, including bandwidth wholesale, messaging interoperability, and later, IoT connectivity services. The 3GPP B2B framework, introduced in Release 8, provided a standardized approach to define charging data records, settlement procedures, and interfaces specifically for business-to-business scenarios. This allowed operators to implement consistent systems regardless of their partners, reducing integration costs and operational overhead.
The framework solves the problem of monetizing network assets in a multi-operator environment. It enables operators to offer their network capabilities (like connectivity, QoS, or location services) to other businesses in a measurable, billable manner. This facilitated the growth of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), roaming consortia, and later, network slicing for enterprises. By providing a clear, standards-based method for tracking usage and calculating charges between entities, B2B reduces commercial friction and supports innovation in service offerings, ultimately benefiting end-users through expanded service availability and competition.
Key Features
- Standardized B2B Charging Data Records (CDRs) with specific fields for inter-entity settlement
- Support for multiple settlement models including wholesale, revenue sharing, and flat-fee billing
- Integration with both offline (OFCS) and online (OCS) charging systems for real-time credit control
- Mediation functions to transform network usage data into settlement-ready formats
- Interfaces to external billing and settlement systems for automated financial processing
- Support for auditing and dispute resolution through detailed, timestamped transaction records
Evolution Across Releases
Introduced the foundational B2B framework within the 3GPP charging architecture. Defined initial B2B charging scenarios, basic CDR formats for inter-operator services, and the integration points with existing charging functions. Established the principles for business agreement parameterization and settlement data exchange between operators.
Defining Specifications
| Specification | Title |
|---|---|
| TS 28.843 | 3GPP TS 28.843 |
| TS 32.101 | 3GPP TR 32.101 |
| TS 32.140 | 3GPP TR 32.140 |
| TS 32.141 | 3GPP TR 32.141 |