Explore smarter DCB startegies with DCBpays
Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) has come a long way from being mostly about helping users top up data. Now, it’s a key part of the digital economy, making it easier for people to pay for things like OTT subscriptions, even without a bank account. For telcos, that means DCB isn’t just a billing tool anymore—it’s a way to drive growth.
But here’s the thing: many telcos still treats it as an add-on, rather than a product. With DCB, telcos can explore new revenue streams—like AI-powered credit top-ups, creative bundles with data plans, and partnerships with both big and niche content players. User experience is also often overlooked, losing customers during the payment process.
The most exciting verticals right now are mobile gaming (especially cloud-based), e-learning platforms, wellness apps, and even short-form video. However, making these work means getting the details right—like local pricing, relevant content, and a smooth payment flow that fits local habits. Localization isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s key to getting users to engage and convert.
Here’s the biggest advice for telcos: start treating DCB like a strategic product. Streamline internal processes, market your DCB offerings properly, and think long-term when it comes to partnerships. DCB has the potential to be a major growth engine—but only if you give it the attention it deserves.
By Yoseph Wijaya, Head of Product
📘 Glossary of Terms
- OTT: Stands for “over-the-top” which is the digital distribution of visual content over the internet, usually through mobile devices.
- DCB: Stands for Direct Carrier Billing which is a payment method that allows users to purchase digital content or services and charge the cost directly to their mobile phone bill or prepaid credit.
- Telcos: Telecommunication companies.
- Creative Bundles: Mobile bundles that include content subscriptions, data plans offered by telcos.
