Policy and charging control in the evolved packet system

Policy and charging control provides operators with advanced tools for service-aware QoS and charging control. PCC for the evolved packet system, defined as part of the 3 GPP Release 8 specifications, has evolved significantly from previous releases to support multiple-access technologies, roaming, and mobility. Within the PCC framework, a number of protocols have been specified to implement these functions. This article describes key PCC concepts and explains additional amendments to support PCC in the EPS.