A system and method in a telecommunications network for billing a call placed by a user based on a reported traffic load in the network. The system includes at least one Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) that sends a reported traffic load for the MGCF in a registration message to a presence and instant messaging (PIM) Server. Users that subscribe to a load-based billing service also register with the PIM Server. The PIM server sends the reported traffic load to the users whenever the traffic load is updated by the MGCF, and to a billing node when the user places the call. A Call State Control Function (CSCF) sends the duration of the call to the billing node. The billing node determines a billing rate based on the reported traffic load and calculates a charge for the call based on the determined billing rate and the duration of the call.