Accelerating cloud-native 5G policy and charging transformation
Overview
A Tier-1 public 5G telecom operator in Japan partnered with HCLTech to modernize its policy and charging infrastructure. The goal was to deploy a converged, cloud-native solution encompassing Policy Control Function (PCF), Charging Function (CHF) and Converged Gateway Function (CGF). Built on virtualized container platform, the solution supports over 20,000 transactions per second (TPS) across four sites, enabling unified policy control and charging across 4G and 5G networks.
The Challenge
Unifying policy and charging across multi-generation networks
The operator faced the complex task of replacing fragmented legacy systems with a unified, scalable and high-performing policy and charging solution. Key challenges included:
- Multi-network support: Ensuring seamless integration across 4G and 5G environments.
- Performance and scalability: Meeting high TPS demands while maintaining low latency and high availability.
- Future-readiness: Building a platform capable of evolving with emerging 5G use cases and service models.
The Objective
Deploy a converged, cloud-native PCF and CHF solution for agile service innovation
The operator aimed to:
- Consolidate policy and charging functions into a single, cloud-native platform
- Enable real-time, convergent charging for 5G services
- Reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and accelerate time-to-market for new offerings
- Ensure compliance with 3GPP standards and seamless integration with existing BSS and network functions
The Solution
Cloud-native deployment of PCF, CHF and CGF on virtualized container platform
We delivered a fully integrated solution comprising:
- Policy Control Function (PCF): Enabling dynamic policy enforcement for 5G services.
- Charging Function (CHF): Supporting convergent online and offline charging across 4G and 5G.
- Converged Gateway Function (CGF): Facilitating mediation and data aggregation for billing systems.
The deployment spanned four geographically distributed sites, ensuring high availability and disaster resilience. The solution was designed for cloud-native scalability, leveraging containerized microservices and automated deployment.
Integration and compliance
The solution was integrated with two main core network vendor’s network functions and multiple BSS stacks, including offline charging systems. It adhered to 3GPP specifications for 5G core network functions, ensuring compatibility with SMF, UDR and NRF components.
Professional services and support
We provided end-to-end professional services, including:
- Solution architecture and low-level design
- Software deployment and configuration
- Customization and integration with existing systems
- Go-live support and ongoing maintenance
This collaborative approach ensured a smooth transition and minimized operational disruption.
The Impact
Enabling agile, future-ready 5G services with cloud-native policy and charging
The deployment empowered the operator to:
- Seamlessly manage over 20,000 TPS across four sites
- Support both online and offline charging for 4G and 5G services
- Accelerate service rollout through helm charts usage
- Lay the foundation for advanced 5G use cases and network slicing
Looking Ahead
Scaling for the future of 5G and beyond
The operator is now planning to:
- Expand capacity to support growing subscriber demand
- Introduce new 5G services and monetization models
- Evolve the cloud platform for enhanced agility and operational efficiency
As a trusted transformation partner, we continue to support the operator in its journey toward a fully digital, cloud-native future.
