A GSM Tariffing Example
This example is based on the initial model for international rates in GSM.
A Belgian subscriber calls a friend in Rome from Paris.
This requires a signalling flow Paris - Brussels
and a telephone circuit from Paris to Rome.
In this case,
- French operator charges Belgacom for
- wireless link
- international call
- surcharge (say 15%) for providing services to subscribers from other operators
-
Belgacom adds a surcharge (say 15%) for billing services payed to French operator
-
Italian operator charges for wireless call
Common Practice
Usually the operators agree on a sender-keeps-all business plan.
Nonetheless, the rates for international calls via GSM are many times more expensive than international calls through the fixed network (in 2001).