Inter carrier billing clearing house (a case study for the Kenyan ICT sector)

Abstract

This project discusses principles of interconnection and activities involved in development of a framework of an efficient inter carrier billing clearinghouse system for the converging lCT market (one of the core area in OSSIBSS setup of service providers). The implied objectives of this project are to highlight the problems and challenges faced by the current stand alone billing systems, as we approach the era of convergence era in technologies in the lCT market. The importance of flexible inter carrier billing clearing house system and key issues to be taken care while developing the system as means of enhancing competition are explained. It begins with the current interconnection regime, and focuses on the new licensing policy framework that is ongoing in the Kenyan lCT market. The theoretical framework, involves the identification ofthe Telecommunications Management Network, as the common interface, that is able to provide the seamless protocol for the future undertaking of the centralized billing system. The technological trends in the Kenyan lCT sector are examined, with a view of identifying the most efficient stakeholder that could be entrusted with the operation of the inter carrier billing clearing house, and the important regulatory issues that need to be addressed to ensure equity are demonstrated. The level of details in this project will help the key stakeholders to gain clear understanding of critical issues involved in development of billing systems framework.