Overview of Slice & Sliceconomics

Network Slice Overview

Network slice is an end-to-end "virtual private service", starting from end device and covering all intermediate functions & domain till application service. Network slice concept was defined in 3GPP Release 15 (28.530, 28.533). Virtualization and cloud technologies enable the same underlying network infrastructure to be used to create virtual network instances with performance characteristics that fit the needs of new customer groups, something that conventional one-size-fits-all networks cannot achieve

Basic concepts of Network Slice –

• Network Slice: A logical network that provides specific network capabilities and network characteristics (Geographical coverage, Mobility, TCO/ARPU & Management Control).
• Network Slice instance: A set of Network Function instances and the required resources (e.g. compute, storage and networking resources) which form a deployed Network Slice.
• Following are three Slice Types defined -

1. eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband)
2. mMTC (Massive machine type communications)
3. URLLC (Ultra reliable low latency communications)

• Specifications defined a three-layer model by 3GPP SA 5

1. The Communication Service Management Function (CSMF) translates communication requirements to network slice requirements.
2. The Network Slice Management Function (NSMF) translates the Network Slice request into a network slice representation across the entire network of the CSP.
3. The Network Slice Subnet Management Function (NSSMF) realizes the slice within its own domain and is fully accountable for the lifecycle of the subnetwork-slice within its domain

Standards that are driving 5G Slicing

Multiple standard organizations and forums are deriving the standards for 5G Slicing and collaborating with each other. Listing few -

• 3GPP – Deriving standards for Radio & Core
• IETF/BBF – Deriving standards for Transport slice & API’s
• ETSI – NFV and ZSM (Zero touch Network and Service Management)
• GSMA – Applicable to E2E slice characterization. NEST maps to the service profile defined in TS 28.541 for the end2end network slice. GSMA and 3GPP are working to align the two. 3GPP service profile should be a 3GPP-specific NEST. Slice Templates; GST (Generic Slice Templates) and NEST (Network Slice Templates)
• TMF - APIs will be relevant in the context of CSMF (communication service management) northbound interfaces.

5G Use-cases

E-book details eight use-cases, their dependency on technology enablers that are linked with 5G standards specifications schedule. Link with 3GPP releases R15 (eMBB), R16 (URLLC) & R17+ (MMTC). Link to e-book to use-cases are available at the following link – 

Economics Potential of Network

Nokia Bell Labs came up with whitepaper on “Unleashing the economic potential of network slicing”. Network slicing has the potential of enabling operators to address new customer segments with highly personalized services. However, the costs incurred and the revenue benefits that could be gained remain largely unquantified. Bell Labs Consulting performed a detailed analysis of network slicing to understand its business viability for operators, the technology’s practical limitations and how these can be overcome.

Link to Whitepaper –