Dynamic Network Slice Management
Like any other xG, 5G brings the new promises of ultra-low latency (uLLC) of less than 1ms with peak speed more than 10Gbps while moving more than 300 miles per second. For a better enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) experience, the users expect at least 50-100 Mbps. Expectation to have more than a million devices (mMTC) per square kilometer drives different innovation in deploying and delivering such requirements. Currently, there are equipment vendors occupied in releasing network infrastructure but further innovation and evolution are expected to gradually reach the required performance in the next few years. Dynamic network slice management is one of them.
Conceptually, this one is the most simplistic 5G solutions whereas the most complicated solution to implement to meet network performance needs. Creating an end to end slice combining with different network resource components and managing the life cycle of such slice not only needed for different type of services, applications, devices, enterprises, geographies, network quality, and so on. There are n-numbers of permutations among bandwidth, latency, throughput, priority, endpoints to name a few that drive the creativity in designing and developing network slice management solution apart from the nightmare and variability around it.
A few of the telecom vendors have thought through this in pre-5G era who has been known for providing end to end network products and applications because of the single ownership of infrastructure. It was relatively easier to optimize the device resources, minimize the code footprint, and maximize the performance but it also added proprietary implementation and reduced interoperability extent. With dis-aggregated virtual network elements, distributed cloud deployment, and COTS platform network slicing solution is more real and valued now. Only the time will tell if growing demand, acceptance and adoption of the solution may drive equipment vendors how to re-design to comply as well as service providers how to rethink deployment more frequently at least in the next few years. Network slicing management solution will be one of the component in the 5G network that will continue transforming for longer time and will continue debating for standardization.
Service providers are the ultimate winner with this solution. There are fewer 5G solutions that help service provider to generate new revenue. This solution is one of them. Endless possibilities of number of use cases for multiple industry verticals could only be delivered with personalized experience are possible through network slicing solution. The solution enable service providers to devise new delivery, pricing, operation, and engagement models. These models are handy for service providers to meet services, varied size, SLAs, and traffic requirements of different industry verticals. Network slicing solution with a design to slice the network resources both vertically and horizontally increases the degree of agility and flexibility in delivering some of the unique 5G services and in building new business models for different enterprises.
Some of the examples where the solution is expected to be critical in performance are enterprise network security, immersive media, V2X, autonomous drones, private network, wireless broadband to name a few. I believe that the market will start adopting the solution at the later part of next year. Maturity of the solution will be a moving target because of ongoing adaptation and evolution needed for the solution. Multi-vendor compliance, level of genuine open APIs from vendors, consensus on standards, and the right owner of providing such solution are some of the key challenges this solution are facing that will decide the timeline of crossing the chasm in the adoption curve.
System integrator positioning are better equipped to drive this solution. The need to build the solution on multi-domain and multi-vendor fabric encourages the industry to look at system integrator to drive this solution innovation. Service providers could also be another owner for the solution considering the snowflake nature of carrier network design, delivery model, customers base, and services portfolio but this may prohibit continuous innovation and adoption cycle. Telecom vendors are already ready with slicing network function in core, orchestrator, and various network functions allowing to build dynamic network slicing management solution but one a few such vendors are currently developing the end to end solution success of which will be known in the next two years. It will not be surprising if service providers join hands with telecom vendors and encourage another opensource community to build one to accelerate the innovation but I believe this will reduce the use case diversity and result in another uncontrolled dinosaur in making.
We all telecom evangelist completely believe in on-demand network slice management and its values to service providers. We have seen how efficient and intelligent market have decided the drivers of a new network innovation. Service providers, telecom vendors, and system integrator are continuing to explore how each one of them get benefited in different ways in contributing and building this solution. Analysts predicting huge market size with amazing growth assures one thing that each one of the players may get benefit. First movers, ease of deployment, and scope of use-cases will be key defining parameters for these players.
