Network Slicing for 5G Networks

Abstract

Network slicing for 5G allows mobile network operators (MNOs) to open their physical network infrastructure platform to the concurrent deployment of multiple logical self‐contained networks, orchestrated in different ways according to their specific service requirements. The end goal of network slicing in 5G mobile networks is to be able to realize end‐to‐end (E2E) network slices starting from the mobile edge, continuing through the mobile transport, and up until the core network (CN). This chapter presents a novel architecture of the network slicing system for realizing E2E network slices. It highlights the challenges and requirements for the management and orchestration (MANO) of network slices based on some architectural and topological use cases of network slices and their possible configurations. Mobile edge slicing presents a number of challenges that must be considered and properly addressed to achieve a slicing solution.