Three steps to unleash the power of 5G network slicing

The transition to 5G is gaining traction, and communications service providers (CSPs) are facing increasingly high expectations from consumers, enterprises, and ecosystem partners. To meet these demands and capitalize on the revenue potential of 5G, CSPs need to align their business and operational strategies with the emerging capabilities of the network.  

Achieving this will require the evolution of legacy telecommunications Business and Operations Support Systems (BSS/OSS) to support new 5G functionalities such as network slicing. Here we discuss three steps to help CSPs take a strategic approach to implementing network slicing – and unleash the full potential of 5G when it comes to delivering superior service experience and capturing new revenues. 

Step 1 – Maximize revenue potential:  embrace network slicing for differentiated services 

Network slicing is a key feature of 5G that allows the creation of virtual networks with specific characteristics tailored to different use cases. It enables CSPs to offer differentiated services to their customers, opening up new business opportunities. However, implementing network slicing requires evolution across BSS/OSS systems to ensure seamless integration and coordination between the network, business processes, and customer experiences. 

The introduction of 5G standalone (SA) architecture is a gamechanger for CSPs and enterprises. It enables automated and orchestrated network slicing, which was not possible with previous generations of mobile technology. Network slicing allows CSPs to offer tailored connectivity services to enterprise customers, creating new revenue opportunities. Each logical network slice facilitates new business model innovations and use cases across various verticals, such as logistics, smart cities, agriculture, gaming, and more. 

Figure 1: Ericsson’s end-to-end (E2E) network slicing and orchestration: delivering real-time allocation of radio resources and supporting service differentiation across slices

Step 2 – Overcome challenges: key considerations for successful network slicing implementation 

Implementing and commercializing network slicing presents new challenges for CSPs: 

• Pricing and business models need to be adapted to capitalize on the value of network slicing, establish new sales and deployment processes, build industry vertical expertise through partnerships, and develop a comprehensive enterprise market strategy.  
• Technical considerations such as cross-domain coordination, guaranteed performance, slicing management, and end-to-end orchestration also need to be addressed. 

To enable business model innovation and support network slicing, BSS/OSS systems need to provide integrated catalog management, orchestration for automated network slice management, private network offerings, products and services configuration, network slice subscriber onboarding and individual slice monitoring, as well as new charging rules based on network slice type. 

A well-designed network slicing solution requires an integrated approach that combines different building blocks, including core commerce, service orchestration, monetization, and data and analytics. CSPs need to define target industry verticals and use cases, determine technical requirements, validate the viability of the business case, and ensure operational readiness. 

Automation also plays a crucial role in realizing the benefits of network slicing by removing manual functions and optimizing processes across BSS/OSS systems. 

Step 3 - Build the foundation: integrate BSS/OSS systems for seamless network slice management 

Our new ebrief Unlocking 5G network slicing opportunities with Business and Operations Support Systems demonstrates how an end-to-end (E2E) approach to network slicing provides simplicity, optimized ways of working, streamlined processes, faster time to market, enhanced data protection, reduced costs, and improved quality in service delivery. Service orchestration is an integral component of the BSS/OSS architecture underpinning network slicing, providing network lifecycle slice management, enabling cross-domain orchestration, and supporting multi-vendor and multi-cloud environments. 

By adopting network slicing and evolving BSS/OSS systems, CSPs can unlock the full potential of 5G and capitalize on the opportunities it brings. It requires a strategic priority to align business and operational strategies with the capabilities of the network, enabling CSPs to deliver superior service experiences and meet the evolving demands of consumers, enterprises, and ecosystem partners.  

Learn more:

Read in-depth analysis of these steps in Unlocking 5G network slicing opportunities with Business and Operations Support Systems  

Navigate the steps of The network slicing transformation journey 

Learn more about the key components of E2E network slicing architecture Explore the essential network slicing building blocks  

Explore OSS/BSS 

Read more about core commerce for superior telecom customer experience 

Read more about service orchestration for better service quality 

Read more about 5G monetization to improve top line revenue capture 

Read more about transforming data into action with Data and Analytics 

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