Page 543 - Handbook of Modern Telecommunications

4-74 CRC Handbook of Modern Telecommunications, Second Edition

• Collection of data on traffic volumes at the peering point between service providers, considering
both directions.
• The generated billing records, that have been derived from the traffic measurements, are pre-
sented to the partners using a paper-based or electronic invoice.
• These invoices originate from both parties; it makes sense to balance invoices and bill for the differ-
ence only. For this purpose, electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) is the ideal solution.
• When other metrics of SLAs are generated and distributed that require exceptional handling,
they will be considered during settlements. Violating SLAs will have financial consequences.
In order to better support all the processes addressed above, Web-based services are recommended
for implementation. As part of EBPP, it is recommended that the parties agree upon the access to views,
results, and partial results.
In summary, we can conclude the following:
• SLAs can make the settlement process between service providers more objective.
• SLAs offer basic data that may be utilized during the settlement process.
• SLAs report on exceptions that might have an impact on settlements.
• Connecting SLAs and settlements are important, and must be addressed during the certifica-
tion process.

There are very few examples; service providers are not willing to publish settlement rules. The over-
seer of the multinational enterprises will get insight into those settlement agreements as part of the
certification process.
4.4.6.4 Tasks of the Overseer
In addition to the well-known tasks of the overseer, the following tasks are added due to the need for
SLA certifications.
• Decision about the SLA contract template for SLAs: The overseer reviews the sample contract with
its 21 contract items and executes changes if necessary. The overseer decides what contract items
are mandatory for the certification process.
• Determination of the acceptable Service-Level Management processes: The overseer reviews the
SLM process (or SLM processes) and executes changes if necessary. The overseer determines what
changes are tolerable from the core process.
• Determination of active and passive measurement points: The overseer evaluates the recommen-
dations for active and passive measurement points on the basis of the networking environment,
existing and planned tools, and on the basis of the skill levels of subject matter experts.
• Determination of the administration boundaries, when multiple providers are serving the same
client: The overseer evaluates the peering alternatives among multiple service providers. The over-
seer determines the administration boundaries on the basis of the configuration of peering points,
existing and planned management tools, and on the basis of skill levels of subject matter experts.
• Evaluating additional certification criteria for suppliers of QoS and SLA tools: The overseer checks
all certification criteria and occasionally executes changes.
• Certification of suppliers: The overseer certifies suppliers of management, administration, and
measurement tools on the basis of technological capabilities and financial stability.
• Evaluation of the results of unifying service classes: The overseer evaluates all recom-
mendations for the unification of service classes submitted by service providers. On the basis of
these submissions, service providers will be certified. In cases where service providers are not
willing to engage in unification, certificates may be revoked.
• Arbitration in case of settlement problems: The overseer executes his/her function as arbitrator
when service providers—suppliers of the multinational enterprises—are unable to reach a settle-