Network slicing is a form of virtual network architecture allows the network operator to provide dedicated virtual networks with functionality specific to the service or customer over the 5G network infrastructure, thus, network operator can support numerous services in 5G by allowing multiple virtual networks to be created on top of a common shared physical infrastructure.

The virtual networks are then customized to meet the specific needs of applications, services, devices, customers or operators.

Network slicing will play a critical role in 5G networks because of the multitude of use cases and new services 5G supports.

These new use cases and services will place different requirements on the network in terms of functionality and performance requirements, for example, an autonomous car will rely on V2X (vehicle-to-anything) communication which requires low latency but not necessarily a high throughput. A streaming service watched while the car is in motion will require a high throughput and is susceptible to latency. Both would be able to be delivered over the same common physical network on virtual network slices to optimize use of the physical network.

Each virtual network (network slice) comprises an independent set of logical network functions that support the requirements of the particular use case, with the term ‘logical’ referring to software.

Each slice is optimized to provide the resources and network topology for the specific service and traffic that uses the slice. Functions such as speed, capacity, connectivity and coverage will be allocated to meet the particular demands of each use case, but functional components may also be shared across different network slices.

Each slicecan be completely isolated so that no slice can interfere with the traffic in another slice. This lowers the risk of introducing and running new services, and also supports migration because new technologies or architectures can be launched on isolated slices. It also has a security impact, because if a cyber-attack breaches one slice the attack is contained and not able to spread beyond that slice.

Each can be configured with its own network architecture, engineering mechanism and network provisioning. It typically contain management capabilities, which will be controlled by the network operator or the customer, depending on the use case. It can be independently managed and orchestrated. Artifecial Intellegence (AI) can play major role in this domain.

The user experience of the network slice will be the same as if it was a physically separate network. Network slicing will enable new products and services that can be brought to market quickly and be easily adapted as demand changes and evolves, translating into increased revenue for operators and more services for end users.