Network Slicing: a key ingredient of US 5G leadership

These enhancements will enable benefits across multiple vertical markets, and support US leadership as industries digitalize. It is crucial that new regulations not impede operators’ ability to deploy network slicing and capitalize on these new capabilities both to support their own business strength and support US leadership in the digitalization of industries with 5G.

Mobile networks offer a multitude of new services in addition to voice, messaging and internet access, many of which are aimed at connecting society and bridging the digital divide. Many of these services have differing connectivity requirements. Just think of the specific communications needs of user groups and verticals such as first responders, Department of Defense, or healthcare, for example. But while those differentiated needs have until now typically been supported through private networks with customized devices, (such as ‘walkie-talkie’ like Private Mobile Radio, or TETRA systems), or virtual private networks, these options have limitations in terms of connection quality, functionality, and customization possibilities.

5G addresses these challenges by enabling a more expedient, secure and cost-effective capability called network slicing. Network slicing will play a crucial role in fulfilling requirements for differentiated connectivity across the full range of mobile network users and services because it can support a multitude of new services with customized QoS and network configuration, such as selection of dedicated network functions in the core Network and/or resource partitions in RAN domain, based on connectivity performance characteristics such as reliability, capacity, latency, location, and security. These capabilities will enhance use cases from simple internet access to new use cases within a smart factory, a drone system, or real-time gaming or video streaming.

Network slicing overview

Network slicing allows mobile networks to be partitioned into virtual network elements (‘slices’) on top of a common shared physical infrastructure. Each network slice can be customized to meet the specific needs of applications, services, devices, customers or operators. Think of a network slice as a type of private network, with the appropriate isolations, but running on a public network, with specified quality of experience parameters in place. Network slicing has been possible in the past, for example in 4G,  but it presented many limitations such as single slice, lower scalability and low level of orchestration. Now the 5G network, especially with the flexibility enabled by 5G Standalone, makes end-to-end network slicing a reality with higher scalability and enhanced quality-of-services management. Figure 1 shows how network slicing can enable multiple services, with differentiated connectivity needs, running on a single network.

Figure 1: A pictorial view of implementing multiple slices in a single physical network. The network slice is a logically separated, self-contained, independent, and secured part of the network, targeting different services with different connectivity requirements, such as throughput speed, latency and reliability. Note that RAN, transport and core partitioning may be end-to-end across the network, for example, or partitioned as core-only (or RAN-only).

Because network resources are shared by different slices, there is a cost saving compared to deploying separate private networks. There are other benefits too:

• Slices can be customized for appropriate isolations, security, and resources. Topology is optimized to provide a service that meets the unique requirements of a specific use case. Slices are secure because they are independent and unknown from each other.
• Slices can be initiated and terminated on-demand (within minutes); this enables them to service connectivity needs for temporary use cases such as events, project-based usage and one-off requirements.
• In addition to simplifying existing systems, network slicing is an enabler that encourages new 5G-based use cases that were previously not practical due to the limitations of other platforms. Network slicing will also enable use cases yet to be conceived.

Network slicing is going to increasingly come to the fore with 5G Standalone (SA) networks. 5G SA networks have a more intelligent and dynamic 5G Core, as opposed to one based on 4G. In North America, T-Mobile, Verizon, Rogers and Dish have live 5G SA networks, with other operators also readying their launches.

Given the distinct requirements of various vertical environments, differentiated connectivity is the key enabler for these applications/services. Let’s consider some examples of how these needs can be accomplished by network slicing, in a secure, expedient, and cost-effective manner:

Remote healthcare

Without network slicing, remote healthcare services must use public networks. This is best effort, which may or may not be satisfactory for all specific circumstances. Remote healthcare services can be augmented and simplified dramatically by using a slice on public networks, often by adding new ‘sliced’ capabilities to connectivity, including:

• Prioritized treatment, regardless of patient location
• More security (of patient data)
• Speed and latency tuned for particular use cases (eg. low latency for video-based uses, such as remote diagnosis, or live streaming to medical students)
• Cost-effective provisioning of healthcare on-demand, around the clock
• Remote home healthcare, which became more common during the pandemic, is expected to stay; network slicing can improve this experience.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

DoD operates a range of communication networks, utilizing Tactical PACE (Primary, Alternative, Contingency, Emergency) Links. The contingent link typically uses public wireless networks that may be vulnerable and require complex configurations. DoD is working on a Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept to connect sensors from all military services, stating plans to use 5G to enable JADC2.

Using a slice on public 5G networks could augment and simplify the DoD’s complex connectivity requirements and add new capabilities:

• Creation of redundant & secure slices across different networks, on an ad hoc basis, each independent of (and unseen by) all others
• Multiple network slices to aid in obfuscation of data and greater reliability
• Delivery of higher throughput and lower latency capabilities for a variety of use cases
• Quality of Service and service prioritization

Emergency Services

Without network slicing, a dedicated physical network (e.g., FirstNet) is needed to support emergency service communications. Again, network slicing capabilities can augment existing communication services and offer a new dimension of connectivity experience:

• Simplified deployment of new services with end-to-end orchestration
• End-to-end segregation/prioritization of mission-critical traffic
• Near instantaneous re-configuration or classification of mission-critical traffic
• Ongoing service assurance

New opportunities for network slicing

Enhancing existing communications is a driver in itself, but it is in the enablement of new services requiring differentiated connectivity that network slicing comes into its own. Moving forward, there is strong potential to enable new services with differentiated connectivity needs that would not be available without network slicing. Examples include:

• Package delivery systems—using one slice for real-time remote control of drone, and a different slice for connecting with non-real-time network resources to manage delivery. Note that drone-based delivery systems can reduce carbon emissions so enabling drone based package delivery brings societal benefits related to sustainability and climate change
• Tele-operated driving—using high-bandwidth, low latency slices to operate industrial vehicles, supporting more fuel-efficient driving and improved road safety while also bringing society benefits of reduced carbon emissions

Summary

Network Slicing can augment and simplify existing connectivity needs and is a key capability for service providers to fulfill the 5G promise of delivering new and innovative services to serve enterprises, governments, industries and society in general with services beyond mobile broadband. It can be a catalyst for the digitalization of society and, for a country with strong 5G network deployment and competition, such as the U.S., it could drive global digital leadership across both public and private network environments. Network slicing is also a vital ingredient in 5G Standalone’s ability to monetize network investment for CSPs which can help ensure a positive investment environment for telecommunications networks.