Managing a charging operation in a communication network

A controller for managing a charging operation in a communication network, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor such that the controller is operable to:

• receive a content specification comprising:
• an identification of at least two vendors;
• an identification of content for provision over the communication network;
• and
• a condition relating to charging the identified vendors for provision of the identified content to a User Equipment, UE;
• create at least one charging policy for provision of content identified in the received content specification, the charging policy specifying division of charging for provision of the content to a UE between vendors identified in the content specification in accordance with the condition comprised in the content specification;
• receive, from a UE, a request for provision of content over the network;
• retrieve a charging policy corresponding to the requested content;
• and
• create a charging entry for provision of the requested content, the charging entry dividing charging for provision of the requested content between vendors identified in the retrieved charging policy and a subscriber account associated with the UE in accordance with the retrieved policy.