Network Slicing in the Scope of Net Neutrality Rules

Abstract

Network technologies are developing further and further allowing service providers to create new applications and services by facilitating end-users in their everyday life and enabling them to benefit from these developments. Evolution of broadband technologies gives the floor for new network use case scenarios that could not be organised previous due to the technological issues. One of these features in 5G network is a possibility to establish network slices thus virtually dividing network for different services according to their needs. This technical innovation anticipates more effective use of the network by allowing to reach better quality indicators for services where it is vital. At the same time the deployment scenarios and applicable regulation rest unclear. More specifically under the question is whether these 5G network slices would be served for only certain nationally selected service providers and act like a sort of specialized services, or those slices would be adapted for specific type of services, they would be open to every service provider and would be relevant to Net Neutrality regulation. In case of the latter it is necessary to determine whether the existing methods and tools is capable to detect noncompliance with the open internet rules and guarantee non-discriminatory approach in provision of such services. The aim of the research is to define the most possible application of 5G network slicing in a country scale and determine the approach of monitoring the provision of services via 5G network slices in order to guarantee service quality and compliance with net neutrality rules.