Virgin Media Voice Interconnect For Dummies

V0.4 January 2016

VIR

GIN

MED

IA V

OIC

E INTER

CO

NN

ECT FO

R D

UM

MIES

** CONFIDENTIAL **

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.

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:

http://

Mobile (optimised for iOS and Android) is available at:

http://

2

Cost/Revenue Matrix 3

Terminating Calls

Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media 4

Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media 5

Non Geographic Call Termination From Virgin Media 6

Non Geographic Call Termination To Virgin Media 7

Freephone Call Termination From Virgin Media 8

Freephone Call Termination To Virgin Media 9

Transiting Calls

Geographic & Mobile Transit Calls From Virgin Media 10

Geographic Transit Calls To Virgin Media 11

Non Geographic Transit Calls From Virgin Media 12

Freephone Transit Calls From Virgin Media 13

Contents

Ported Calls

Ported In Geographic Termination Calls 14

Ported In Non Geographic Termination Calls 15

Ported In Freephone Termination Calls 16

Ported Out Geographic Termination Calls 17

Ported Out Non Geographic Termination Calls 18

Ported Out Freephone Calls 19

Ported In Geographic Transit Calls 20

Ported In Non Geographic Transit Calls 21

Ported In Freephone Transit Calls 22

Ported Out Geographic Transit Calls 23

Ported Out Non Geographic Transit Calls 24

Ported Out Freephone Transit Calls 25

Other Call Scenarios

Virgin Media Owned Directory Enquiries 26

IDA/CPS 27

WLR Usage 28

Glossary 29

3

Ge

ograp

hic C

all Term

inati

on

From

Virgin

Me

dia

Geo

graph

ic Call Te

rmin

atio

n To

Virgin

Med

ia

No

n G

eograp

hic C

all Termin

atio

n Fro

m V

irgin M

ed

ia

No

n G

eograp

hic C

all Termin

atio

n To

Virgin

Med

ia

Freep

ho

ne

Call Term

inati

on

From

Virgin

Med

ia

Freep

ho

ne

Call Term

inati

on

To V

irgin M

edia

Geo

graph

ic & M

ob

ile Transit C

alls From

Virgin

Me

dia

Geo

graph

gic Transit C

alls To V

irgin M

edia

No

n G

eo

graph

ic Transit C

alls Fro

m V

irgin M

ed

ia

Freep

ho

ne

Transit C

alls From

Virgin

Med

ia

Po

rted In

Geo

graph

ic Termin

atio

n C

alls

Po

rted In

No

n G

eograp

hic Term

inati

on

Calls

Po

rted In

Freep

ho

ne

Termin

atio

n C

alls

Po

rted O

ut G

eograp

hic Term

inati

on

Calls

Po

rted O

ut N

on

Geo

graph

ic Termin

atio

n C

alls

Po

rted O

ut Free

ph

on

e Term

inati

on

Calls

Po

rted In

Geo

graph

ic Transit C

alls

Po

rted In

No

n G

eograp

hic Tran

sit Calls

Po

erted In

Freeph

on

e Transit C

alls

Po

rted O

ut G

rograp

hic Tran

sit Calls

Po

rted O

ut N

on

Geo

graph

ic Transit C

alls

Po

rted O

ut Free

ph

on

e Transit C

alls

Virgin

Med

ia Ow

ned

Directo

ry Enq

uiries

IDA

/CP

S

WLR

Usage

Termination Cost

Termination Revenue

Service Charge Cost

Service Charge Revenue

Transit Cost

Transit Revenue

APCC Cost

APCC Revenue

Management rate

Conveyance rate

Interconnect Cost & Revenue Matrix

4

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)

Rangeholder

(Other CP) Other CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate

Originating CP

(Virgin Media)

Caller pays

retail call

charge

Virgin Media Cost

Virgin Media Revenue

Cost or Revenue for Another CP

Call Direction

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.

5

Virgin Media charges Other CP a call termination rate

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)

OTHER CP) Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

Caller pays retail

call charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

There is a big difference in the

termination rate between Fixed Line

and Mobile call termination

6

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)

Terminating CP

(Rangeholder)

Terminating CP charges Virgin Media the Service Charge

Caller pays a

Service Charge + Network Access

Charge (NAC)

Originating CP

(Virgin Media) (Retains the 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

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

7

Virgin Media charges Originating CP the Service Charge

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)

Originating CP (Retains The NAC)

Terminating CP

(Virgin Media)

Caller pays a

Service Charge +

Network

Access Charge

(NAC) 118 Numbers that terminate on Virgin

Media’s network are explained in the

DQ section of this guide.

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

8

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)

Terminating CP

(Rangeholder)

Service Provider

pays the

Terminating CP

a retail charge

Virgin Media charges the Terminating CP a

Freephone Origination rate

Originating CP

Virgin Media

Caller does not pay

for this call

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

9

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)

Originating CPr) Originating CP charges Virgin Media a

Freephone Origination Rate.

Caller does not pay

for this call

Terminating CP

Virgin Media

Since July 2015 these calls are even

free to mobile subscribers.

Service Provider pays the

Terminating CP a retail

charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

10

Originating CP

Virgin Media)

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.

Terminating CP

Transit Carrier(Keeps the transit charge)

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

11

Terminating CP

(Virgin Media)

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)

Caller pays retail

call charge Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

12

Originating CP

Virgin Media

(Retains the NAC)

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


This is the usual mechanism for getting calls to small carriers and where capacity is full on our directs.

Transit Carrier Usually BT

(Retains the Transit Charge)

Terminating CP

For Geographic calls, the originating

CP pays the transit rate. For Non

Geographic calls, the terminating

CP pays the transit rate

Caller pays a Service Charge plus Network

Access Charge (NAC)

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

13

Originating CP

(Virgin Media)

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


This is the usual mechanism for getting calls to small carriers and where capacity is full on our directs

Terminating CP

Transit Carrier (Keeps the transit charge)

Caller does not pay for this call

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction Service Provider

pays the

Terminating CP a

retail charge

14

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.

Rangeholder

Virgin Media charge Rangeholder a termination rate

Terminating CP

(Virgin Media)

Someone calls a number

that was originally on

Other CP’s network

(irrespective of who’s

subscriber it is.)

Rangeholder charges Virgin Media an APCC

Rangeholder adds a ported number prefix

and passes the call to Virgin Media

Caller pays retail

call charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

15

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

Virgin Media charges Rangeholder a Service Charge

Terminating CP

(Virgin Media)

Virgin Media pays Rangeholder an APCC



Caller pays a Service

Charge plus a

Network Access

Charge (NAC)

Someone calls a

number that was

originally on

Rangeholder’s

network.

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

16

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.

Rangeholder

Rangeholder charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination rate

Terminating CP

(Virgin Media)



Rangeholder’s network

(irrespective of who’s

subscriber it is.)

Rangeholder charges Virgin Media an APCC



Caller does not

pay for this call Service Provider

pays the

Rangeholder a

retail charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

17

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.

Recipient CP (Terminating CP)

Recipient CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate

Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

Someone calls a num-

ber that was originally

on Virgin Media’s

network

Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APC

Virgin Media adds a ported number prefix

and passes the call to Recipient CP

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

Virgin Media get the

retail charge unless the

call is not originated on

Virgin Media’s net-

work. In that case the

caller’s retail charge

will not get passed on.

18

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.


Receipient CP charges Virgin Media a Service Charge

Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

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.

Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APCC

Virgin Media adds a ported number pre-

fix and passes the call to Recipient CP

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

19

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.

Recipient CP (Terminating CP)Recipient CP charges Virgin Media a

Freephone Origination rate



Virgin Media’s

network Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

Virgin Media charges Recipient CP an APCC

Virgin Media adds a ported number prefix

and passes the call to Recipient CP

Service Provider

pays the

Recipient CP a

retail charge

Caller does not

pay for this call

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

20

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

Rangeholder

Transit Carrier

(BT)

Someone dials a number

which was originally allocated

to the Rangeholder

Rangeholder adds ported

number prefix and passes call

to BT

BT reads the ported number

prefix and passes the call to

Virgin Media

The Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC

Recipient CP

(Virgin Media) Terminating CP

Virgin Media charges the Rangeholder a call termination rate

Caller pays retail

call charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

21

PORTED IN NON GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (03, 084, 087, 09)

Rangeholder

Transit Carrier

(BT)

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

Someone dials a

number which was

originally allocated

to Other CP.

The subscriber

pays a Service

Charge plus Network

Access Charge.

Other CP adds ported

number prefix and

passes call to BT



Virgin Media

Recipient CP


Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC

Virgin Media charges Rangeholder a Service Charge

Rangeholder claims back the ported transit rate from Virgin Media

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

22

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

Rangeholder

BT

(Transit Carrier)

Someone dials a num-

ber which was originally

allocated to Other CP

Other CP adds ported number

prefix and passes call to BT



Virgin Media

Rangeholder charges Virgin Media APCC

Recipient CP


Rangeholder charges Virgin Media a Freephone Origination rate

Caller does not

pay for this call

Service Provider

pays the

Terminating CP a

retail charge Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

23

Rangeholder


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


Recipient CP

BT

(Transit Carrier) Someone dials a

number which was

originally allocated to

Virgin Media

Virgin Media adds ported

number prefix and passes

call to BT BT reads the ported number


Other CP

Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP APCC

Receipient CP charges Virgin Media a call termination rate

Virgin Media

either charge

a retail rate to

the caller, or a

termination

rate to the

Rangeholder

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

24

Rangeholder


PORTED OUT NON GEOGRAPHIC TRANSIT (03, 084x, 087x, 09)

Recipient CP

BT

(Transit Carrier)



Virgin Media adds ported number

prefix and passes call to BT

BT reads the ported number prefix and

passes the call to Recipient CP

Recipient CP charges VM Service Charge

Virgin Media charge Recipient CP APCC

Virgin Media claims back ported call transit rate from Recipient CP

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

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.

25

Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

PORTED OUT FREEPHONE TRANSIT (0800,0808)




BT

(Transit Carrier) Someone dials a

number which was

originally allocated

to Virgin Media

Caller does

not pay for

the call

Virgin Media adds ported

number prefix and passes call

to BT BT reads the ported number


Other CP

Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP APCC

Service Provider

pays the

Recipient CP a

retail charge

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

Virgin Media charges the Recipient CP the Freephone Origination rate

26

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 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.

OTHER CP (Retains the NAC)

BT

(Managed Service)

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.

Other CP subscriber dials a

Virgin Media DQ number.

They pay a Service Change

plus a

Network Access Charge Other CP pays Service Charge to BT but as it is a

Virgin Media number, BT pass that onto us.

Virgin Media

(Rangeholder)

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

Some calls are “onward connected” by the operator. 118180 and 118878

calls do not attract an onward connect fee. The other numbers do.

26

27

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.

Other CP

Other CP charges Virgin Media a conveyance rate

for passing the call to them.

Rangeholder

(Virgin Media)

Subscriber wishes to use

the Virgin Network to

place calls (usually as they

get a tariff better suited

to their needs)

Prefix is added to denote the call is to

go to the Virgin Media Network for on-

ward connection, or termination.

The call is now seen as a

Virgin Media Originated

Call

If there is a delay between WLR

being provisioned and IDA/CPS

being activated, the call follows the

WLR usage flow

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

Shortcode calls always go

via BT for IDA/CPA

WLR Usage

28

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.

BT

Virgin Media pays BT their interconnect rates for

dealing with the calls on our behalf.

Virgin Media

Customer has WLR product

but not IDA/CPS

These calls are not passed to the

Virgin Media Network and are

dealt with completely by 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 bill the subscriber

for these calls at retail level

Virgin Media Cost



Call Direction

29

Glossary

AERO BT’s charge for getting an NGCS call from their customer to a

point on their network that interconnects with another CP

APCC Average Porting and Conveyance Charge

Calls & A Virgin Media Business Objects Universe used for

Margins reporting. Also known as C&M

Carrier A Communications Provider

Communications A company licenced by OFCOM to supply

Provider (CP) 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)

Mediation The process by which data which has been harvested from

a switch, is post processed for downstream services

(typically Rating and Billing.)

Network The charge a CP makes to it’s subscriber for providing access

Access to NGSC services. Typically a Non Geographic Call will attract a

Charge 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.

NGCS Non Geographic Call Service

OFCOM UK Communications Regulator

POLO BT Terminology for Payments made to Other CP

Ported A phone number that a subscriber has kept when they

Number have moved service to a new supplier

Range Communications Company originally allocated a block of

Holder phone numbers (of typically 10,000) by OFCOM for retail

sale.

Regulated An Interconnect charge rate that is set by OFCOM

ROLO BT Terminology for Revenue from Other CP

Service The portion of an NGCS call which is passed to the

Charge rangeholder

SNGN Simplified Non Geographic Numbering

Switch A computer which collects a telephone call and reviews it

against a set of rules to determine where to send it.

Tandem A measure of how many hops across the BT network a

call takes

Termination A call’s destination

Transit A stepping stone from a call’s origination to it’s

termination

TWIX BT Terminology for Call Transit Charge

Documents

Virgin Media Voice Interconnect For Dummies