Network slicing: a next generation 5G perspective

Prashant Subedi,Muhammad Imran,Abeer Alsadoon,Sabih Rehman,P W C Prasad,Nabil Giweli,Samrah Arif

doi:10.1186/s13638-021-01983-7

Abstract

Fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks are projected to bring a major transformation to the current fourth-generation network to support the billions of devices that will be connected to the Internet. 5G networks will enable new and powerful capabilities to support high-speed data rates, better connectivity and system capacity that are critical in designing applications in virtual reality, augmented reality and mobile online gaming. The infrastructure of a network that can support stringent application requirements needs to be highly dynamic and flexible. Network slicing can provide these dynamic and flexible characteristics to a network architecture. Implementing network slicing in 5G requires domain modification of the preexisting network architecture. A network slicing architecture is proposed for an existing 5G network with the aim of enhancing network dynamics and flexibility to support modern network applications. To enable network slicing in a 5G network, we established the virtualisation of the underlying physical 5G infrastructure by utilising technological advancements, such as software-defined networking and network function virtualisation. These virtual networks can fulfil the requirement of multiple use cases as required by creating slices of these virtual networks. Thus, abstracting from the physical resources to create virtual networks and then applying network slicing on these virtual networks enable the 5G network to address the increased demands for high-speed communication.

Highlights

Over the recent years, the substantial increase in the use of handheld gadgets has resulted in a massive surge in the volume of mobile traffic across private and enterprise networks as well as across the global internet [1]
software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV) can be used as the key components in the architecture of the 5G network, and using these technologies allows the network to be separated into different slices, which can be dedicated to different use cases, such as Internet of things (IoT), smartphones applications and intelligent vehicles
In this article we provide a comprehensive taxonomy of a network slicing model that is used in the 5G network domain

Summary

Introduction

The substantial increase in the use of handheld gadgets has resulted in a massive surge in the volume of mobile traffic across private and enterprise networks as well as across the global internet [1]. SDN and NFV can be used as the key components in the architecture of the 5G network, and using these technologies allows the network to be separated into different slices, which can be dedicated to different use cases, such as Internet of things (IoT), smartphones applications and intelligent vehicles. This feature of creating network slices that correspond to the demands of each service can be a major differentiating feature of the generation 5G network.

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Conclusion