Telefónica and Ericsson demo automated end-to-end network slicing

The trial, which took place in a 5G lab jointly founded by Telefonica, included the validation of dynamic radio resource partitioning.

“Dynamic slicing the RAN portion has been the stumbling block so far,” says Dean Ramsay, principal analyst, TM Forum.

5G slicing also represents several operational challenges that make automation important if operators are to roll out 5G network slices cost-effectively. They include the need to optimize network performance for multiple different types of slice and use-cases in real time, as well as meeting individual customers’ different service assurance requirements.

The companies tested both automatic provisioning and management and service assurance on use cases that require complex service configuration, including the remote control of an automated guided vehicle and gesture recognition.

They also demonstrated a handset’s ability to simultaneously access different network slices, as well as determining which traffic goes to which network slice. During the demo the companies were able to use automation to configure and deploy a network slice from core to radio in under 35 minutes.

“The deployed network slices will secure dedicated resources in the radio access network as well as in the core,” according to Jorge Navais, Global Account Manager of Telefónica, in a statement. “Network slicing is key to accommodating new use cases leveraging 5G, with the promise to provide new capabilities to a variety of users and enterprises with minimal or no manual intervention.”