Network slicing opens up new monetization possibilities in 5G

The year 2022 is quickly becoming the year of network slicing and monetization as operators move to maximize their ability to tailor their offerings to their customers.

In Malaysia the deployment of  the first commercial network in the world to apply Dynamic Radio Resource Partitioning, a 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) Slicing solution from Ericsson, is a milestone in many ways – not least because the single network, which is owned and operated by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB),,grants access to six of the nation’s mobile network operators (MNOs).

Meanwhile in the U.K. Ericsson and Vodafone have successfully rolled out the first 5G standalone (SA) network slicing trial in a joint lab demonstration to create on-demand 5G connectivity.

These projects are real-world examples of how network slicing and 5G are combining to offer the kind of flexibility that both operators and customers desire.

Such unique deployments using common shared 5G networks can boost a national economy, supporting faster industrial transformation and, along with it, faster 5G adaptation. At the same time, it can help a country be more environmentally friendly, with reduced energy consumption, reduce tower rollout and a reduction in carbon footprints. The shared network model with lower Investment Cost per Hz can make 5G a profitable business model for governments, operators and consumers.

DNB, which is wholly owned by the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, has been mandated by the government to be the single neutral party to undertake the deployment of 5G infrastructure and network nationwide – a challenging situation which Ericsson is helping them find solutions to.

As is the case in many markets, different operators in Malaysia have differentiated services that they use to attract and retain business, and the customer base that spans a wide range of price points and priorities.

This software solution dynamically allocates spectrum resources and supports multi-dimensional service differentiation handling across slices, giving the operators stability and flexibility while the network owner maintains an unprecedented ability to manage the network.

Slicing capabilities

The software optimizes radio resources, strengthening end-to-end slicing capabilities for dynamic resource management and orchestration, which ensures fast and efficient delivery of services, as well as high-quality user experience.

The UK trial featured a virtual reality cloud gaming application requiring low latency and high bandwidth, which was realized through an on-demand premium 5G network slice using Ericsson’s 5G Standalone containerized core architecture and end-to-end automated orchestrated solution, including 5G RAN slicing.

The premium 5G network slice guaranteed low latency and high bandwidth experience for VR service. The end result was process that, from the creation of the network slice to carrying live network traffic, took just 30 minutes. The trial showcased the ability for CSPs to deliver new services featuring automated and customized connectivity quickly.

This kind of dynamic usage of network levels the playing field for operators – instead of battling for access and to maintain speeds, they know exactly what to expect. This allows them to build their offering safe in the knowledge that the network will deliver what is demanded of it when they go live.

Ericsson at MWC 2022 showcased the potential use of multi-pay network slicing based on the Dynamic Network Slicing Selection capability, which means that slices can be invoiced to different receivers, even from the same smartphone.

A simple use case could be that a user’s private calls are invoiced via one company, while business or work-related calls are billed to another.

Dynamic network slice selection is a way of ensuring that the right network capacity for the right end-user and use-case is employed at the right time, whether it’s a gamer looking for a superb mobile experience or an executive following a trade show online.

To find out more, visit the links on 5G RAN Slicing, Network Slicing and our latest press releases on different trials with Deutsche Telekom, FarEasTone and the recipe for 5G monetization success based on the FarEasTone trial.