Network slicing is the key to 5G’s potential Every day, there are big steps forward in putting 5G networks together. 5G is a big step up from 4G in terms of speed. It opens up a lot of new possibilities, gets rid of network congestion, and makes it easier for us to connect with each other and the rest of the world.
5G network slicing’s potential
5G wireless technology has the potential to change many industries and consumer lives because it has higher bandwidth, lower latency, and more reliable wireless internet connections. Shamik Mishra, Chief Technology Officer of Connectivity at Capgemini Engineering, says that this means “machine-to-machine communication and connectivity for critical infrastructures like public safety, manufacturing, and ports can now reliably connect devices, taking full advantage of data and cloud to deliver new revenues, better productivity, and new experiences.”
5G network slicing’s potential
With 4G and earlier wireless networks, all devices got the same service. However, different industries have different network needs, so it would be better for the customer if the networks were different.
“Network slicing is a concept that 3GPP built into the 5G standards, which makes it possible to offer different kinds of service. Mishra says, “Telecom operators can now set up several different, virtual, independent networks within the same physical network, each one for a different type of service.”
“For instance, operators can now set up different networks for connected cars and industrial automation. This gives operators more freedom in how they deliver services and gives their enterprise customers more confidence by guaranteeing different service levels on demand, he says.
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Communication service providers (CSPs) are now looking for ways to make the most of 5G, after its successful launch, so they can stay competitive and find new ways to make money off their network investments.
“Network slicing lets CSPs give their customers a lot of new value. It also gives Cloud Service and Infrastructure Providers new ways to work together. By automating, operators can offer new services at lower costs and on a larger scale. When the number of customers and slices goes up, automation of management becomes even more important, says Mika Uusitalo, Head of New Technologies and Innovation at Nokia.
“Network slicing gives CSPs an efficient way to package valuable network capabilities into different, SLA-based services in a cost-effective way that can drive profitable growth,” he says.
Network slicing is a type of architecture that lets different applications, services, devices, customers, or carriers use the same physical infrastructure to create different virtual networks that meet their specific needs. It makes it possible to run multiple logical networks as almost completely separate business operations on a single common physical infrastructure in a way that is efficient and saves money.
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Network slicing has the potential to improve how infrastructure is used and how resources are distributed.
Using network slicing to make 5G work better
With network slicing, users at the edge of the network can get their own dedicated bandwidth without having to build private systems over a large area. This makes the network more responsive to customer needs.
For example, it is now possible to give people at the edge of the network an augmented reality gaming experience in person. This can be done through the edge cloud without having to build special radio systems in a physical location.
“Network slicing is all about providing services based on the level of service they provide. These services are based on giving customers dedicated bandwidth and/or low latency capacity for services that span the RAN, edge, and cloud. This makes their services more customizable based on their customers’ individual needs.
Ian Goetz, Global Lead, RAN Systems Architect 5G at Dell Technologies, says, “It also lets CSPs create new ways to make money and targeted services for key verticals like Blue Lights providers, where network availability and latency are very important.”
Alex Sinclair, the Chief Technology Officer of GSMA, says that network slicing has become an important part of 5G because it lets customers enjoy connectivity and data processing that are tailored to their needs and business needs. This is especially important in the age of 5G, when different industries are trying to use the power of technology to make their work more productive.
Sinclair says that the ability to customize network capabilities makes operations much more efficient and shortens the time it takes to get products and services on the market.
“Another benefit of network slicing is that it lets businesses add more security to slices that handle more sensitive tasks. It makes it harder for hackers to get in because a breach can only affect a single slice,” he says.
This is especially important because the introduction of 5G has given security professionals new problems to solve when it comes to cyber security. 5G’s software-based systems have more traffic routing points than 4G, and there are multiple unregulated points of entry to the network. This means that hackers can track the location of logged-in users and even interfere with their cellular reception.
Automation and where network slicing is going in the future
As operators may be expected to manage up to thousands of network slices, automation will be a key part of the infrastructure needed if network slicing is to unlock the full potential of 5G in the future.
Sinclair says, “Automation technology will be used to handle changes in the slice lifecycle, traffic load, service needs, and network resources in real time.” “To put it simply, automation and the ability to make slices quickly could make it possible for operators to package and repackage network capabilities in different ways for different customers. This is what network slicing is all about.”
The GSMA thinks that network slicing will make operators $300 billion by 2025, with most of that money coming from businesses like manufacturing, automotive, and logistics.
Nokia’s Uusitalo agrees with this prediction and says, “We will also make some money from consumer services, like providing broadband through 5G fixed wireless networks and cloud gaming.” Slicing both 5G and 4G networks will bring value to a wide range of new use cases in energy, transportation, smart traffic, manufacturing, public sector, ports, smart city, business applications, virtual reality, augmented reality, high-quality video streaming, and cloud gaming, among others.