Convergent charging primed for overhaul

Operators now view convergent charging as a key tool in shortening the time-to-market for new services and in creating and delivering more innovative products and bundles, according to Infonetics Research.

A new surveyby Infonetics shows that service providers are increasingly pressuring their vendors to up the ante by building improved reliability, scalability and configurability into their products.

Other leading factors driving convergent charging investments include better monetization of data services, support of marketing initiatives, and countering competition from over-the-top (OTT) players.

Also, 38% of respondents say their convergent charging deployments are or will be replacing existing software-based charging systems. Infonetics believes this could signal the start of a replacement cycle of first-generation convergent charging systems