In a world with 5G connectivity, network slicing is one of the prominent technologies that is here to stay, delivering tailored services and connectivity for users. Network slicing provides communication service providers (CSPs) the ability to flexibly separate services in their 5G network and enhance traffic steering to maximize quality of experience (QoE). With the network slicing enterprise (B2B and B2B2X) market predicted to be worth $200 billion by 2030, CSPs must monetize on this opportunity by enabling new services and ensuring better QoE to attract customers and retain existing ones.
This can be done by allowing devices and applications to select the appropriate network slice to meet the specific service requirements. None of this is possible without 5G core — it is required for settings, policy and routing of traffic.
What we’re seeing now is the introduction of dynamic network slice selection technology, which works specifically within the policy function of the core network to enable separation of slices — and thus services — on a single device. This is the next step for network slicing and will unlock new capabilities, driving value for CSPs. Essentially this capability gives some element of power to the devices and applications to select a slice that corresponds to the needs of a specific application. The end users then benefit from differentiated services such as a generic mobile broadband slice for basic consumer services, a specific slice for a service like gaming and a high-security slice for enterprise applications — all on one device.
The power of network slicing
Multiple slices through slice selection allows each device with multiple profiles to secure different levels of experience, security and privacy requirements, based on the needs of the different applications and in correspondence with the user profile. For instance, a device can have a personal profile and dedicated network slice with private data from apps or off-work entertainment, and a work profile and dedicated network slice with enterprises productivity apps.
With such features, employers can customize the work profile with increased security and enable better use of RAN Slicing with QoS so that enterprise-related apps can work even during network congestion. This functionality is enabled by enacting 3GPP-standards of user equipment route selection policies (URSP). URSP is one of the main functionalities being implemented in 5G smartphones and 5G network infrastructure today, and allows devices to have multiple network slices on the same device with traffic detection and steering capabilities
Some security-sensitive apps, such as mobile banking, can also benefit from different routing mechanisms of the traffic
The banking app would not need to send its traffic to the internet and then to the app server as it does today. Instead, it could go straight to the app server and avoid the routing through internet. With the shortest route by connecting to a defined slice, users could reduce the risk of being attacked by hackers. But Network slicing selection enables more than just separating personal and business profiles.
Unique use cases
At its core, network slicing is about bringing multiple virtual networks along with their capabilities and security to a single device. Take a car for instance — the user can have on slice dedicated to entertainment, one dedicated to software and one for traffic security. And then can all run simultaneously. Network slicing can even be optimized for cloud VR game streaming.
A recent trial was carried out for a cloud VR streaming game use case with two independent E2E network slices consisting of a default mobile broadband slice and a cloud VR gaming–optimized slice. The gaming slice was designed and configured to enable higher throughput and stable low latency, while also providing resource isolation between the two slices. The trial case demonstrated a superior experience on the gaming slice even under congested network conditions. The trial also saw the successful achievement of another important world-first milestone — namely the introduction of a 5G UE slicing policy feature (UE route selection policy, or URSP) that allows a device to steer applications and services with specific requirements to a defined slice.
Another possible implementation of URSP-led network slice selection is in law enforcement. A police officer in the field could keep personal functions on his or her device completely separate from more high-security aspects, like access to closed-circuit TV cameras, etc.
Network slicing will be a key pillar for enabling a variety of 5G use cases for enterprises and consumers — and dynamic slice selection is the next step that will bring the power of slicing to single devices. Technological advances across industries are increasing the demand for high-performance, flexible mobile broadband, communications and other services for people and machines. As CSPs work to meet market demands, the developments in network slicing technology will continue to become even more critical to their ability to truly monetize 5G.
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