be limiting for any subscriber who may want
more or less data than what is offered.
Another method used to combat the rise in
data cannibalisation is usage-based billing. By
tracking exactly how much data a subscriber
is consuming each month, and charging them
on a metered-style billing plan — such as
commodity providers selling gas, water, and
electricity — operators can alleviate some of the
congestion caused by over-consumption while
also monetising usage increases. Usage-based
billing is also a good way to offer services to any
subscriber with lower income. Think of it like a
pay-as-you-go cell phone plan; the subscriber is
given complete control over how often and for
how long they use IP services, and can therefore
control exactly how much bandwidth they are
consuming each billing cycle.
But there’s a risk involved. Many subscribers
aren