Telefónica and Ericsson have demonstrated end-to-end, automated network slicing in 5G Standalone, including Dynamic Radio Resource Partitioning.
The lab test was carried out at 5TONIC, a Madrid-based open research and innovation laboratory focused on 5G technologies, founded by Telefónica and IMDEA Networks. The proof-of-concept covered different use cases including a 360-video production in motion in collaboration with technology start-up YBVR, remote control of an automated guided vehicle (AGV), and gesture recognition in collaboration with Spanish SME Fivecomm.
The network slicing for enterprise demo was carried out on Android 12 and 13 Beta powered smartphone devices. The demo proved that the onboarding of a network slice, from core to radio, may be configured and deployed in less than 35 minutes thanks to the solution’s automation capabilities. All the use cases executed needed a specific and complex service configuration, therefore full automation is a key success factor to turn network slicing concept into a reality and accelerate time to market.
Telefónica said the most relevant capabilities of network slicing technology that have been validated are:
- Automation in the provision and life cycle management of end-to-end network slices.
- Network Slicing service assurance.
- Definition of different scenarios for the traffic prioritization in a network slice, such as Radio Resource Partitioning (RRP) that enables the sharing of radio resources between use cases with different service requirements.
- Simultaneous access of a handset to different network slices, having the possibility to select the traffic sent to the different network slices.
Telefonica aims to accelerate the network slicing capabilities across its networks as well as in the industry. Through its program called LIME, Telefonica is collaborating with Ericsson as a key partner to further develop network slicing as a technology that will bring to life a variety of new 5G applications and services
“Ericsson has achieved a key milestone by demonstrating fully-automated deployment of end-to-end network slices (from RAN to Core) in cooperation with Telefónica, at 5TONIC lab. The deployed network slices will secure dedicated resources in the radio access network as well as in the Core for satisfying specific needs of selected use cases, enabling that Telefónica meets new customer demands on a zero-touch operation. 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”, Jorge Navais, Global Account Manager of Telefónica, said.
“Bringing together the end-to-end ecosystem required for network slicing to thrive as a product is key for Telefonica and the rest of the telco industry. We are proud of being one of the first operators to demonstrate the benefits and differentiators of network slicing to our customers thanks to Radio Resource Partitioning and automation for full end-to-end slicing life cycle management. We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners and the rest of the industry to make slicing a commercial success for all”, Cayetano Carbajo, Director of Core & Transport in Telefonica CTIO, said.
