Routing & Softswitch
Ref: GSMA Wholesale Charging Principles
Origin-Based Rating (OBR)
Origin-Based Rating & Surcharge Mechanism
Direct Telecom Definition • Carrier Industry Standard
A telecom billing mechanism where the SMS termination cost is determined by the geographical origin of the sender ID or originating MSISDN.
Key Takeaways & Executive Summary
- Differentiates termination charges based on originating country vs destination carrier network.
- Prevents traffic misclassification and eliminates surprise post-billing penalty surcharges.
- Essential for optimizing cross-border enterprise A2P campaigns across Europe and the UK.
Technical Definition & Carrier Engineering Standards
Origin-Based Rating (OBR) is a tariff framework implemented by mobile operators (predominantly in Europe, the UK, and Latin America) where cross-border A2P SMS termination rates differ depending on whether the traffic originated domestically, regionally (e.g., intra-EEA), or internationally (e.g., US/APAC). Legitimate enterprise routing requires automated OBR prefix mapping to avoid punitive surcharges.
Connected Software & Carrier Telecom Corridors
High-Volume SMS Corridors
Enterprise Dispatch Software
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did mobile operators introduce Origin-Based Rating (OBR)?
Mobile operators introduced OBR to monetize international cross-border A2P messaging from large multinational platforms while protecting reciprocal low-cost domestic and regional pricing agreements.