5G Network Slicing: Definition, Types, and Functions

This article explores the definition of 5G network slicing, its different types (or flavors), and its functions within the 5G ecosystem.

What is Network Slicing?

Network slicing can be defined in various ways.

From a mobile operator’s perspective:

It’s an independent, end-to-end logical network that operates on a shared physical infrastructure, providing a negotiated quality of service. The underlying technology that enables network slicing remains transparent to the business customers utilizing it.

For example, a 5G network slice can span various parts of the 5G network, including the 5G terminal, 5G RAN (Radio Access Network), and 5GC (Core Network). 5G network slicing can even be deployed across multiple operators.

A network slice comprises dedicated and/or shared resources, such as storage, processing power, and bandwidth. Critically, one network slice is isolated from other slices within the system.

Domain experts have also weighed in:

• Bruno Jacobfeuerborn (CTO, Deutsche Telekom): “Network slicing is envisaged as a key enabler to support multiple services in the 5G era…”

• Chaobin Tang (President, 5G Product Line, Huawei): “5G network slicing can enable a logically isolated network based on a mobile network… operators, vendors, and vertical industrial players should cooperate and pave the way for commercializing 5G slicing networks.”

• Ulf Ewaldsson (SVP & CSTO, Ericsson): “…network slicing technology is critical to enable networks to become innovation platforms for new types of applications and thereby meet the future expectations of people, business, and society.”

Network Slicing Flavors and Types

Network slice types are defined based on functional or behavioral characteristics. This allows mobile network operators to deploy a single network slice type to fulfill the needs of multiple verticals or deploy multiple different network slice types packaged as a single product to cater to different business customers.

Here are the different flavors of network slicing:

• Vertical slicing: This type is industry-focused and designed to serve verticals en masse. Example applications include public safety, IoT, and IPTV.

• Horizontal slicing: This type is user, device, and app-focused to serve a broad range of use cases. Applications include downloads, uploads, and various traffic types (BE, delay-sensitive, capacity-sensitive, symmetric, etc.).

• Static slicing: These are fixed slices intended for perpetual use, such as M2M and IoT.

• Dynamic slicing: This represents an evolved approach to deliver slices in real-time.

Network slicing has broad applicability across industries, including automotive, utilities, logistics, media & entertainment, industrial internet, finance, healthcare, and smart cities.

Network slicing is highly customizable. The following network capabilities and services can be tailored to specific needs:

• Network Capability Parameters: Latency, security, energy efficiency, massive connectivity, mobility, reachability, throughput, guaranteed QoS, etc.
• Network Service Parameters: Big data, localization, edge computing, cloud storage, dynamic charging, platform security, ID management, etc.

5G Network Slicing Functions

Here are the key functions of 5G network slicing:

• 4G networks lack the ability to support the range of services required in the future. 5G networks, with their flexibility and speed, address these requirements through network slicing.

• 5G network slicing enables service providers or operators to build virtual end-to-end networks to meet a wide range of application requirements, such as mobile broadband (for entertainment), M2M/Massive IoT (for retail, shipping, and manufacturing), and low-latency critical IoT (for automotive and medical applications).

• It facilitates network optimization for different use cases, helping to reduce operators’ CAPEX/OPEX.

• It supports automation and programmability.

• It isolates the control plane and data plane, allowing for effective utilization of shared resources.