Network slicing is the latest buzzword in the massive R&D program which is seeking to create 5G. Ericsson and SK Telecom, which recently extended their 5G alliance, are looking to lead the way in implementing the NGMN Alliance’s concept of a single infrastructure supporting multiple slices, each of them enabling a different type of device or service, or a different service provider.
The two companies have signed a letter of intent to work together on a 5G core network that deploys network slicing, leveraging Ericsson’s Regional Cloud Lab and Hyperscale Datacenter System.
The lab, which is based in four sites in China, Korea and Japan, will have the demonstration core network ready by the end of the year, say the partners. This will allow companies and researchers to develop applications and verify performance.
SK Telecom said: “5G Network Slicing is a technique developed to provide customized services by categorizing and adding intelligence to network features through core network virtualization. At present, a multitude of services – including IoT, mobile banking, video/music streaming and SNS – are all provided over one network. However, with 5G Network Slicing, an optimized network environment can be set up for each and every service, thus enhancing the overall network operational efficiency.”
The NGMN Alliance, in its 2015 5G White Paper, says a network slice supports a particular connection type with a specific way of handling the control and user planes, in order to “provide only the traffic treatment that is necessary for the use case, and avoid all other unnecessary functionality … Third party entities can be given permission to control certain aspects of slicing via a suitable API, in order to provide tailored services.”
Carrier-grade software defined networking, NFV and network orchestration will be the key tooks in enabling network slicing, said Ericsson.