Net neutrality versus 5G Slicing

A provocation to reflect on is net neutrality versus network slicing.

#5g #networkslicing #slicing #neutrality

A crucial point of discussion in the world and Brazil is the issue of net neutrality. At first, we understand that the cellular network must be neutral, this is our human instinct where the same opportunity to access a vital and critical service must exist for everyone and in equal conditions. Now, let's make a parallel with the roads, don't we also think the same with public roads? For example, roads have the neutrality of use, anyone can use it paying the same toll value. Looking at public roads we have special situations, in some places like ultra-urban centers, very dense, some lanes are paid with an additional toll to be used. In this sense, this more expensive track is no longer equal and neutral, it is still universal, that's what's cool, anyone can use it, but you have to pay to use this differentiated service. Should this way not be looked at as connectivity? I mean, having 2 or 3 levels of service where companies that want to run in higher quality connectivity service would have to pay some kind of “fee” to the owners and maintainers of the network? And/or the user that also wants this higher quality should not have to pay for it?

This could be the Service slicing level in 5G, for example, eMBB level, URLLC level, and mMTC level.

Now let's talk a little about Application Slicing in 5G. We all understand that at first, this is inappropriate, but in the case of roads, incredible as it may seem, we also have slicing at the application level with different tolls. I don't know about other countries, but in Brazil, motorcycles pay a toll fee, passenger cars another value, and trucks another value, all based on the number of tires / automotive axles.

That said, will we also not have 5G slicing at the application level? Where will different SLA levels and pricing per application exist even within the same service universe (eMBB/URL/mMTC/etc)? See the image below:

Operators should be able to use their invested assets freely, guaranteeing full network neutrality for services/applications that involve security and that guarantee the minimum service that each government establishes, in the case of the USA the “Minimum Fixed Broadband Speed Benchmark”. “Currently, the FCC's minimum fixed broadband speed benchmark is?25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloading and 3 Mbps for uploading data, commonly referred to as “25/3 Mbps.” There are many online applications for which 25/3 Mbps is adequate—browsing, email, and video streaming to a single device”

Capacity above security applications and the minimum of public utility that each government defines each operator could slice the network based on its commercial strategy defines without having net neutrality restrictions.

One of the great technological evolutions of 5G is network slicing, how to effectively applies it in society this incredible evolution of the cellular network enabled by the 5G As (Stand Alone) network? For our progress as a society, if this slicing cannot be monetized by the natural holders of this capacity that are operators, are we naturally neglecting this improvement as a society?