Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management System
Identifying and eliminating complex telecom fraud and leakages within network to save revenue.
Our client, a large Namibian Network Operator, required a platform where potential revenue loss, suspicious transactions or customer activity would automatically be flagged and tracked by a Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management System (RAFMS). In order to achieve this, it had to be done in such a way that provides an overview of the particular issue, and makes it easy to navigate the investigation into the detail of each possible case – through the use of dashboards.
Client Overview
With 2.6 million active subscribers, our client is one of the largest mobile telecommunications operators in Namibia. For over 26 years, they have grown revenue and retained customers by providing voice and data services and solutions to post-paid and prepaid individual and business customers.
They delivered this through their extensive telecommunication transmission and distribution network, which includes 35 mobile homes, 29 dealerships (airtime sellers and distributors), a 24-hour customer service center, digital channels, and a network quality and management center (for immediate response to customer complaints).
Challenge
For any telecommunications operator, it is critical to have a robust fraud detection and management system in place. Late or non-detection of fraud can lead to significant revenue losses. The client also needed a system that could keep pace with new technical developments in the telecom industry, as these developments were providing new opportunities for fraudsters to commit crimes. The challenges the client faced included the following:
New network technology (such as 5G) and services, introduce new data sets which need to be included in monitoring tools on a regular basis.
Revenue assurance and fraud monitoring have become more complex and there are more systems to monitor. Data from these systems are frequently disconnected from one another, making it impossible to see the full picture and how they interrelate.
Raw network data grew exponentially, becoming more difficult to track, load, and analyse.
Criminal syndicates are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it harder to detect and track suspicious activity on their networks.
The multi-vendor environment within networks complicates the process of building and maintaining a Data warehouse since sources are siloed and not uniformly accessible.
New Partnerships and Commercial Models complicate the setup of billing rules making them more prone to error and harder to find incorrect billing rules that can lead to incorrect rating.
Reduced capability to proactively prevent revenue leakage.
Solution Approach
The Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management System is built on top of the CDRlive Enterprise Datawarehouse system.
Ensuring all possible data needed for the solution was available, accurate and easily accessible was the first step in developing the solution.
Multiple sessions were held with the client to understand their specific needs regarding revenue assurance reporting, alerts needed and potential fraud threats they face. This helped us to tailor use cases specific to our client’s needs.
The use cases were implemented using an agile approach. Users were able to receive reports and use alerts outputs as soon as the first use cases were implemented.
Use cases were parameterised for the users to effortlessly change and “tweak” the alerts without further code changes
The implementation for each use case followed the same path with user reviews at each applicable step. Users participated in the specification requirements, final testing, and the approval of all use cases.
Key Pillars Used in Implementation
Leveraging EDW Data Processing and Ingestion
In order to get a complete picture of all user activity including historical data, it is important to use a centralised EDW. This helps ensure that the source data is accurate and trustworthy. Additionally, automated key KPI validation and alert mechanisms can help to quickly identify and resolve issues.
Revenue Assurance
In order to ensure that revenue is not lost, it is imperative that data is handled correctly and that operational processes are functioning properly. This pillar ensures the quality and integrity of data, and that system processes are adhered to. As a result, automated usage, subscription and event based monitoring of services is implemented to ensure that charges and reconciliations are correctly applied.
Anti-Fraud
This pillar saw the implementation of an automated usage trend analysis of user activity at various dimensions. This is used to stop any type of irregular activity that may lead to revenue loss and allows network operators to detect and track usage patterns. To support investigations, users are also able to track and monitor detailed event records. A number of components were integrated, enabling usage monitoring, traffic pattern analysis, fraud detection, use-case modelling, as well as case management and investigation.
Results
This solution has assisted Vodacom Tanzania in mitigating several challenges regarding regulatory compliance, data accuracy, and optimal performance resulting in time and resource savings.
5 to 10 years of data retention as opposed to 60 days previously.
Full data governance and traceability with the ability to go into the data warehouse and nvestigate data.
Complete and full visibility of the process through reporting.
Enhanced flexibility and easy-to-use platform.
Savings on costs, resources and time as the team can focus on other essential tasks.
Enhanced revenue assurance.
Possibility to further expand the solution, allowing for the ingestion and aggregation of additional data streams.
Take the First Step Towards Effortless Compliance
Ready to simplify regulatory compliance and strengthen trust in your telecom operations? This Regulatory Data Monitoring Compliance solution for MNOs is designed to help you stay ahead of evolving regulations, reduce risks, and build lasting confidence. Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey to a seamless, transparent, and future-ready telecom sector.