What is network slicing in 5G?
5G network slicing is nothing but logically dividing a physical network into multiple virtual networks. Each virtual network will cover specific use case requirements. Here network slice will isolated from each other in control and user plan. Each user will be experienced dedicated services as like they are using dedicated physical network. Service provider can deploy only functions that are required by user instead of full fledge function deployment. Here, service provider can save cost. So, in a single 5G network, we can provision a high capacity, medium latency and highly available network slice for eMBB slice, in parallel we can also have highly secured, highly available and low bandwidth slice for IOT application like smart meter etc.
Network slicing is not limited to 5G core network, it also include RAN and transport network slicing.
For network slice life cycle management and orchestration, we need intent based networking close loop automation.
How many types of network slicing?
There are two types of network slicing.
- Soft network slicing:
Soft network slicing is logically dividing common physical resources.
- Hard Network slicing:
Hard network slicing is dedicatedly reserving physical resources for the each slice.
Architecture of 5G network slicing as per 3GPP
3GPP release 16 provides us information about 5G network slicing. The hierarchical 5G network slicing architecture is described below.
CSMF (communication service management function) acts as a gateway for customer. It converts customer service requirement into network slice requirement for the network. CSMF talks with NSMF (network slice management function) and then NSMF talks with domain specific NSSMF (network slice subnet management function) for RAN, transport and core respectively.
Domain specific NSSMF also talks with their domain specific NFMF (network function management function) to achieve end to end network automation and complete life cycle management.
Standard based 3GPP API must be supported for multi-vendor communication and interoperability.
5G network slice automation flow
In 5G network slice automation flow, the design and end to end network slice creation need to divide the end to end slice SLA into slice subnet SLA and network resource requirements for each domain. Each NSSMF will perform network slice subnet creation, activation and apply SLA accordingly for individual domain. For example, in the core domain NSSMF will talk to network function virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) for the virtualized environment or container orchestrator for cloud-native environment.
In this way, the network functions are created with basic configuration and the network slice subnet SLA’s are converted into network function configuration parameter. These are used by NFMF to provision network function in each domain respectively.
Then NFMF activates the network functions and network service associated with the slice by configuring the service as per the slice subnet requirements.
3GPP network slice lifecycle management
3GPP network slice lifecycle management includes four phases. Each phase will have some specific task and verification. Network slice lifecycle management phases are mentioned below.
- Preparation
- Commissioning
- Operation
- Decommissioning
Preparation:
The preparation phase is before creating network slice instance. This phase includes design of network slice, on boarding and preparation of network environment which are required for creating a network slice instance.
Commissioning:
Commissioning phase includes creation of network slice instance (NSI). All the required sources are allocated and configured as per network slice requirement. The creation of NSI includes creation of NSI or modification of NSI parameters.
Operation:
The operation phase includes the activation, supervision, performance reporting (e.g. KPI monitoring), resource capacity planning, modification, and de-activation of an NSI.
- Activation task will make NSI ready for communication services.
- Resource capacity planning includes any actions that calculates resource usage based on an NSI provisioning, and performance monitoring and generates modification polices as a result of the calculation.
- NSI modification task shall be used when there is need of capacity change or changes in network topology. The modification can include creation or modification of NSI constituents. NSI modification can be triggered by receiving new network slice requirements or as the result of supervision/reporting.
- The deactivation task performed when NSI is inactive and not in used.
So, the main task involve in the operation phase are activation, modification and de-activation of an NSI.
Decommissioning:
The decommissioning phase involve in the decommissioning of network slice from non-shared resource elements and removing NSI specific configuration from shared resource elements.
Revenue potential of network slicing
There is huge revenue potential for communication service provider with offering network slicing services. According to the ADL analysis there is about 3.8 trillion USD market opportunity from global digitalization services by 2030. A USD 200 billion USD opportunity for CSP network slicing can be derived from the total global digitalization revenues.
Revenue category
| Modelling steps | BUSD | Assumptions |
| Allocate digital revenue potential across industry segments | ~3800 | Full ICT value chain (SW, HW, services…) All industrial use cases (B2B, B2G, B2B2X)Addressable by all ICT players |
| Isolate 5G mobile enabled revenue across segmentspecific use case | ~1490 | Breakdown of mobile enabled share by use case: 5G created (100%) 5G enhanced (75%) 5G independent (0%) |
| Isolate slicing enabled revenue for each use case | ~510 | Assessment of slicing-enabled share per use case: – Most likely slice (60%) Likely slice (30%) Not likely slice (10%) None (0%) |
| Isolate CSP addressable slicing enabled revenue for each use case | ~200 | Estimated value chain and CSP addressability per 5 value chain steps, based on 4 categories of use case business model archetypes |
The industries with the highest revenue potential for network slicing for CSPs
Healthcare sector is having highest revenue potential followed by government sector.
