An updated Carrier Billing charter to further strengthen user trust in France
The 2026 charter update from AF2M, the French Association for the Development of Multi-Operator Multimedia Services and Uses, reinforces a clear conviction: a responsible Carrier Billing ecosystem depends on user trust.
France has long been at the forefront of developing a structured framework for Carrier Billing, supported by the collective commitment of telecom operators and industry stakeholders, particularly through AF2M. Successive charters have progressively strengthened transparency, responsible commercial practices and consumer protection. The 2026 update continues this work, adapting safeguards to evolving practices and user expectations.
The update reinforces a principle essential to Carrier Billing: before confirming an order, users should understand what they are purchasing, how much it costs, whether charges recur and that the charge will appear on their mobile bill.
Two areas receive particular attention:
- Further strengthening information on sales pages. Stronger requirements govern the presentation of prices, subscription frequency, promotional periods and payment through the mobile bill. Service descriptions must also be easy to understand, go beyond legal notices and include illustrations or visual representations of the content being purchased.
- Reinforcing responsible advertising and acquisition practices. The charter further strengthens advertising standards, particularly rules against misleading presentations and practices, to promote clear communication and informed purchasing decisions throughout the acquisition journey.
As an AF2M member actively engaged alongside the association and French telecom operators, Digital Virgo has consistently supported the development of rules that strengthen customer experience and secure purchasing journeys.
“Trust is built through a collective commitment to put users at the centre of decisions. This updated charter demonstrates the value of working closely with telecom operators and industry partners in France to continuously improve practices. Clear rules and secure, straightforward payment journeys give users confidence and create the conditions for everyone in the ecosystem to operate responsibly. This work in France is a concrete illustration of Digital Virgo’s global approach to sustainable ecosystem management, driven by a shared ambition to put user satisfaction and protection at the heart of lasting growth,” says Guillaume Briche, CEO of Digital Virgo.
Working closely with local stakeholders to advance responsible practices
France’s updated charter illustrates the importance of ongoing collaboration between industry associations, telecom operators, service providers and regulators. Working closely with these stakeholders helps ensure that rules and practices address the realities of the local market, with user protection guiding their evolution.
The same commitment to local engagement guides Digital Virgo in other markets, through collaboration with telecom partners and associations such as MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum), WASPA (Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association), WASPAN (Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association of Nigeria) and AIMM (Association for Interactive Media and Micropayments). In each of the 60+ markets where the Group operates, the objective is to contribute to clear rules and smooth, secure user journeys that reflect local requirements and expectations.
This long-standing commitment covers the entire user journey: responsible advertising and clear offers before purchase, transparent and secure payment flows during the transaction, and accessible subscription management and informed customer care afterwards. Digital Virgo’s compliance, customer care, product, technical and commercial teams work with telecom operators and service providers to monitor these journeys, address issues and continuously improve practices, translating shared principles into concrete safeguards for users.
Building on established safeguards, the updated AF2M charter marks another step in strengthening the trust that makes Carrier Billing a simple, accessible payment option alongside other methods, while adapting protections to evolving practices and new uses.
Frequently Asked Questions: Understanding the Framework Behind a Trusted Carrier Billing Ecosystem
What is Carrier Billing?
Carrier Billing, also known as Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), allows users to pay for eligible services through their telecom operator. The amount is added to their mobile bill or deducted from their prepaid balance, without requiring users to enter bank or payment card details.
What is AF2M?
AF2M is the French Association for the Development of Multi-Operator Multimedia Services and Use (Association Française pour le Développement des services et usages Multimédias Multi-opérateurs). It brings together French telecom operators and organisations representing service providers and technical partners to develop and oversee services available across operator networks, including Carrier Billing. Its work includes industry charters that establish shared standards for responsible practices and consumer protection.
When does AF2M’s updated Carrier Billing charter take effect, and how does it build on France’s established framework?
The updated 2026 charter takes effect on 30 October 2026, continuing the development of France’s established framework for transparency and consumer protection.
France’s Carrier Billing market has operated within a strict and long-established framework of safeguards since the launch of operator billing solutions, progressively strengthened through self-regulation led by key players in the French mobile ecosystem. Following the creation of a first mobile payment charter in 2009, a dedicated Carrier Billing charter was introduced in 2012 and subsequently updated several times through 2023. The 2026 update builds on this history, continuing the collective commitment to further strengthening user protection as services and practices evolve.
What is MEF?
MEF stands for Mobile Ecosystem Forum, a global trade association bringing together companies across the mobile ecosystem. It supports industry collaboration on topics including mobile payments, messaging and digital services, with initiatives covering best practices, codes of conduct and fraud prevention.
What is WASPA?
WASPA stands for Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association. It is a South African industry association and self-regulatory body for providers of mobile services. Its activities include enforcing a member Code of Conduct, monitoring services and handling consumer complaints to support responsible practices and user confidence.
What is WASPAN?
WASPAN stands for Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association of Nigeria. It represents mobile service providers and aggregators in Nigeria, promoting adherence to industry rules and best practices. Its activities include a member Code of Conduct and a consumer complaints process.
What is AIMM?
AIMM stands for Association for Interactive Media and Micropayments. It is a UK trade association representing businesses in these sectors. Through working groups, industry guidance and dialogue with regulators, it promotes responsible practices and an environment of consumer confidence and trust.
Why does Digital Virgo work with industry associations and local stakeholders?
Working closely with associations, telecom operators, merchants and regulators helps Digital Virgo contribute to practices that reflect local market realities and user expectations. This collaboration supports clear information, secure payment journeys and effective customer care, helping build a trusted and responsibly managed Carrier Billing ecosystem.
