TIME TO LET GO OF THE KNIFE BUTTER

Although network slicing presents potential for new monetisation opportunities and efficiencies, its complexity and sprawl still pose challenges

- PRATIMA HARIGUNANI

It may not be the next big thing after Bread Slices but it is a market worth USD 1909.5 million revenue by 2030 and could touch USD 3 billion by 2032. In 2021 alone, network slicing clocked USD 261.2 million in revenues as per Reports and Data estimates, while Future Market Insights pegs it at USD 370 million in 2022.

Put simply, network slicing happens when you start building several distinct virtualised and logical networks over a shared multi-domain infrastructure. The physical infrastructure need not be expanded but with slicing you can abstract it, slice it, and provision it for various areas as needed. The basic components are shared between networks but each slice is isolated for specific purposes.

Depending on the kind of use, latency, capacity, coverage, and throughput can be determined and dedicated for each slice. Every slice gets managed independently. Resources like computing power, storage, and bandwidth can be shared and dedicated among networks as required. You can use several tools and approaches for this to happen, like network function virtualisation, software-defined networking, automation, and orchestration. Once you can create independent logical mobile networks – network slices – on the same physical mobile network infrastructure, each slice can work like an isolated end-to-end network that can be purpose-designed for diverse requirements required by specific applications or customers.

"The potential of network slicing in monetising 5G is well understood and recognised by CSPs that have launched commercial 5G networks."