How to…

Typically, one row in the table contains the rate information for a single phone number prefix, such as 445 or 44527. If a vendor’s file includes several prefixes in one cell (see the example below), you can still upload it without manually editing the file.

For this, at the Review file parsing step, simply specify the character that is used to separate multiple prefixes in the file, e.g., semicolon (;), in the Delimiter for multiple rate codes field.

As a result, at the Review rate information step, you’ll see that PortaBilling creates a separate rate for each prefix.

You can upload a rate file that includes only the country or category name and price, as in the example below.

Before uploading these rates, you need to create a code group set that includes code groups for these countries (locations) and assign it to the tariff ( Tariff > General configuration > Code group set).

At the Review data mapping (match data columns with rate parameters) step:

1. Locate the column with the code group names and click the dropdown list next to the column header. Assignthe column with countries to the Code group. If the system automatically assigned a different field to this column, unassign that field.
2. Ensure that PortaBilling correctly identifies the Price column. If not, click the dropdown list and select the Price checkbox.

Sometimes vendors provide rate files where country codes and area (city) codes are listed in separate columns.

In this case, there is no need to edit the .xls file manually to merge these two columns before uploading. PortaBilling automatically combines the country prefix and area code into one Rate code field.

At the Review data mapping (match data columns with rate parameters) step:

1. Locate the column with country codes, click the dropdown list next to the column header, and assign the country prefix to the needed column. If the system automatically assigned a different field to this column, unassign that field.
2. Locate the column with area codes, click the dropdown next to the column header, and select Rate code.

When you upload rates from a file, you can control how PortaBilling:

• interprets the data, e.g., what format your values are in (e.g., time specified in seconds, or min:sec).
• transforms the data, e.g., removes “+” before the rate code.

For example, you can select whether the rate’s First Interval is defined in seconds, minutes, min:sec, or other custom format, or change the rounding precision for the First Price field.

To adjust the value format:

1. At the Review data mapping (match data columns with rate parameters) step, click Field properties before a specific column header name (e.g., First Interval or First Price).
2. Select the format from the dropdown list. This format will be used to interpret all values in the selected column.

You can also apply a “Postprocessing Rule” to automatically adjust the imported data before it is saved in PortaBilling. It’s useful when the rate file from a vendor doesn’t match the exact format your system expects – for example, when:

• prefixes include extra characters you want to remove or add (like adding a “+” before the rate code).
• numeric values (e.g., rates or surcharges) need to be adjusted – increased, decreased, or rounded.

For this, enter a Perl regular expression in the Postprocessing Rule field to modify the original value as needed.

Sometimes values for the rate parameters (e.g., route category, preference) need to be corrected during the rate upload. For this, at the Review rate information step:

• Click the dropdown list and select the needed value; or

• Click the field in the column where you want to change the value. Delete the existing value and enter the new one.

As a result, the entered value will be uploaded instead of the file value.

Sometimes a vendor’s file does not have all rate parameters in the list of rates (e.g., the starting date 01.01.2026 of new prices is provided in the general tariff information). Instead of adding and populating a missing column in the file, you can add a virtual column and set its value directly during the rate upload.

At the Review data mapping (match data columns with rate parameters) step:

1. Click Add virtual column.
2. Specify the values for the following fields:

• Select field – select the field to be assigned to the newly created virtual column (e.g., Effective From).
• Format – select the needed format of the field values.
• Default value – assign a default value for the selected field (e.g., 01.01.2026 00:00:00).
• Apply default value – leave any option selected because there are no existing values in the file.

Inter-/intra-state rates determine how calls are priced:

• Inter-state rates apply to calls made between different states.
• Intra-state rates apply to calls made within the same state.

Follow the steps below to correctly upload US inter-/intra-state rates into a tariff:

1. Before uploading the rates, make sure that the US inter-/intra-state rates are enabled. Refer to the Billing for US inter-/intra-state calls handbook for detailed instructions.
2. Prepare a rate file to upload. Define the US rates in the following way:
   • In the Off-peak Period field, enter ”_USInterIntraState_”.
   • For inter-state rates, specify the prices in the First Price and Next Price fields.
   • For intra-state rates, specify the prices in the Second Off-peak First Price and Second Off-peak Next Price fields.
3. Upload the rate file to the tariff following the steps in the handbook. During the upload process, the system will automatically recognise the rate codes marked as inter-/intra-state, and appropriate rates will be created.

1. Before uploading, you need to enable the within/outside EEA rates in the Configuration web server (refer to the Configuration section).

   

2. Prepare your .xls, .xlsx file to upload. Define the European rates in the following way:
   • Specify "_ZoneRating_" value in the Off-peak Period field.
   • For Outside EEA rates, specify the price in the First Price and Next Price fields;
   • For Within EEA, specify the prices in the Second Off-peak First Price and Second Off-peak Next Price fields.
   You can use separate rates for calls within/outside the EEA only for peak periods. Peak/off-peak pricing is not supported.

   

3. Upload the prepared file to the tariff following the steps in the handbook. During the upload process, the system will automatically recognise the columns defined in the file.

After the rates for calls within/outside the EEA are uploaded and configured, PortaBilling checks whether the CLI belongs to any of the EEA countries for each call to a European rate code. If the CLI belongs to the EEA countries, the price for calls within the EEA is used. If the CLI does not belong to any of the EEA countries, the price for calls outside the EEA is used.

If you are a mobile operator engaged in wholesale SMS delivery, you may need to define rate codes in the E.212 format. This format defines rate codes as combinations of mobile country codes ( MCC) and mobile network codes ( MNC). The cost of SMS is defined by Unit Price values.

You can see an example of the file below:

You can upload rates from a file into a tariff, just like an E.164 rate code file, but with some differences:

1. At the Review data mapping (match data columns with rate parameters)step, assign MCC, MNC, and Unit price fields to the corresponding columns. If the system automatically assigned a different field to a column, unassign that field.
2. Proceed with the upload by following the steps in the Rate import handbook.