Transferring between or within networks a telecommunication service to a user terminal

A telecommunications system comprising a first network entity and at least one other network entity, the first network entity comprising a negotiation agent and telecommunication apparatus, the negotiation agent being configured to agree with a user terminal to provide the service at a certain charge rate and the telecommunication apparatus being configured to start to provide the service to the user terminal;

• the negotiation agent being configured to control sending invitations to at least one other network entity to provide the service;
• the negotiation agent being configured to receive at least one offer from said at least one other network entity to provide the service to the user terminal;
• and
• the negotiation agent being configured to accept one of the offers, said first network entity being configured to, in response to the acceptance, cease providing the service and charging for the service, and hand provision of the service to one of said other network entities.

A method of providing a service to a user terminal by a first network entity and a second network entity, the method comprising the steps of the second network entity:

• receiving an invitation from the first network entity to offer to provide the service;
• sending an offer to provide the service;
• receiving an indication that the offer has been accepted by the first network entity so as to hand provision of the service to the second network entity;
• being handed provision of the service so as to provide the service and charge the user terminal without the first network entity being involved.