5G network slicing finally shown to be more than pipe dream
(2024/02/08)
- Reference: 1707398109
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/02/08/bt_5g_network_slicing/
- Source link:
Telco BT has demonstrated network slicing, long slated as a key element for providing full fat 5G networks promised to subscribers.
The Brit network giant says it showed both consumer and enterprise applications enabled by network slicing at its [1]Adastral Park research facility. The tests used a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network running on Ericsson kit and used devices based on Qualcomm mobile chipsets.
Network slicing can be likened to virtualization for networks; it allows multiple networks, each with characteristics tailored for different applications, to operate over the same physical infrastructure.
[2]
Some applications call for minimal latency, for example, while others need a reliable connection and others simply benefit from having the maximum bandwidth possible.
[3]
[4]
This was [5]touted as a key feature of 5G , but like others, only seems to be arriving with 5G SA networks that overhaul the network core rather than just slapping a 5G radio onto existing 4G infrastructure.
By allocating a portion of the 5G SA network to provide dynamic partitions for specific use cases, BT says better performance could be maintained for bandwidth-heavy activities such as mobile gaming and video conferencing, even during peak times.
[6]
During the trials, it was able to establish network slices for gaming, enterprise, and Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), the last of which basically meaning faster downloads.
Using the enterprise and eMBB slices simultaneously, BT says the tests showed off 4K video streaming, which requires a stable connection and low jitter, plus other enterprise use cases with a Samsung S23 Ultra device based on Qualcomm's [7]Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
On the gaming side, BT's demonstration was able to maintain a throughput in excess of the recommended 25 Mbps at 1080p resolution on Nvidia's GeForce Now gaming service, plus a gaming session on Fortnite using the Samsung S23 Ultra, the telco claims.
[8]Telco giants show it's tough selling 5G kit right now
[9]Is it time for 6G already? Traffic analysis says yep
[10]UK officials caught napping ahead of 2G and 3G doomsday
[11]Ericsson sues Lenovo over 5G patents, accuses it of stalling talks
"As we work diligently towards the launch of our own 5G SA network, today's successful demonstration of how slicing enables us to differentiate quality of service to guarantee performance for different segments is a significant milestone," said BT Group Chief Networks Officer Greg McCall.
The question arises of when BT will offer these better services to customers in its operational networks, but the company was either unable or unwilling to provide us with an answer.
[12]
"It is likely that we will see the launch of EE’s 5G SA network at some point this year, and can then expect a phased rollout based upon customer needs and capacity hungry areas," telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight told us.
"A trial is great, but now it's time to start implementing this cool stuff in a real life commercial and operational environment," he said. Wider industry support is needed, including a broad range of devices, he added.
Gartner VP Analyst Bill Ray said it was surprising that it had taken the industry so long to get here, considering this is part of the 5G standard.
He sounded a note of caution for the mobile industry when commercializing this technology. "I've spoken to a lot of network operators who plan to sell slices of their 5G networks to enterprises. However, I have yet to speak to an enterprise which is planning to buy one." ®
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[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2016/07/13/eu_operators_5g_manifesto_misses_the_point/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/qualcomm_snapdragon_8_gen_2/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/25/ericsson_nokia_results/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/29/mobile_industry_looks_to_6g/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/20/uk_2g_3g_switchoff/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/16/ericsson_sues_lenovo_over_5g/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The Brit network giant says it showed both consumer and enterprise applications enabled by network slicing at its [1]Adastral Park research facility. The tests used a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network running on Ericsson kit and used devices based on Qualcomm mobile chipsets.
Network slicing can be likened to virtualization for networks; it allows multiple networks, each with characteristics tailored for different applications, to operate over the same physical infrastructure.
[2]
Some applications call for minimal latency, for example, while others need a reliable connection and others simply benefit from having the maximum bandwidth possible.
[3]
[4]
This was [5]touted as a key feature of 5G , but like others, only seems to be arriving with 5G SA networks that overhaul the network core rather than just slapping a 5G radio onto existing 4G infrastructure.
By allocating a portion of the 5G SA network to provide dynamic partitions for specific use cases, BT says better performance could be maintained for bandwidth-heavy activities such as mobile gaming and video conferencing, even during peak times.
[6]
During the trials, it was able to establish network slices for gaming, enterprise, and Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), the last of which basically meaning faster downloads.
Using the enterprise and eMBB slices simultaneously, BT says the tests showed off 4K video streaming, which requires a stable connection and low jitter, plus other enterprise use cases with a Samsung S23 Ultra device based on Qualcomm's [7]Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
On the gaming side, BT's demonstration was able to maintain a throughput in excess of the recommended 25 Mbps at 1080p resolution on Nvidia's GeForce Now gaming service, plus a gaming session on Fortnite using the Samsung S23 Ultra, the telco claims.
[8]Telco giants show it's tough selling 5G kit right now
[9]Is it time for 6G already? Traffic analysis says yep
[10]UK officials caught napping ahead of 2G and 3G doomsday
[11]Ericsson sues Lenovo over 5G patents, accuses it of stalling talks
"As we work diligently towards the launch of our own 5G SA network, today's successful demonstration of how slicing enables us to differentiate quality of service to guarantee performance for different segments is a significant milestone," said BT Group Chief Networks Officer Greg McCall.
The question arises of when BT will offer these better services to customers in its operational networks, but the company was either unable or unwilling to provide us with an answer.
[12]
"It is likely that we will see the launch of EE’s 5G SA network at some point this year, and can then expect a phased rollout based upon customer needs and capacity hungry areas," telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight told us.
"A trial is great, but now it's time to start implementing this cool stuff in a real life commercial and operational environment," he said. Wider industry support is needed, including a broad range of devices, he added.
Gartner VP Analyst Bill Ray said it was surprising that it had taken the industry so long to get here, considering this is part of the 5G standard.
He sounded a note of caution for the mobile industry when commercializing this technology. "I've spoken to a lot of network operators who plan to sell slices of their 5G networks to enterprises. However, I have yet to speak to an enterprise which is planning to buy one." ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://atadastral.co.uk/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2016/07/13/eu_operators_5g_manifesto_misses_the_point/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/qualcomm_snapdragon_8_gen_2/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/25/ericsson_nokia_results/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/29/mobile_industry_looks_to_6g/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/20/uk_2g_3g_switchoff/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/16/ericsson_sues_lenovo_over_5g/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZcUIt8PRXf4mTLB9h6ttDgAAAIY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "I have yet to speak to an enterprise which is planning to buy one"
sev.monster
5G adoption has been so poor in my area I can't even use these amazing advertised (i.e. theoretical) data speeds. So much for that.
Re: "I have yet to speak to an enterprise which is planning to buy one"
ARGO
Most recent 5G devices already support SA and network slicing.
They can be turned on via software updates.
But vendors would like to have something to test it against before doing that. A novel idea in tech, I know.
Streaming doesn't need low jitter
John Robson
A small buffer requires low jitter - streaming just requires appropriate bandwidth.
Dreams and nightmares
Anonymous Coward
The dream is that network slicing enables operators to charge premium prices for premium services to premium subscribers. The reality is that either the physical RAN already has the capacity to provide the service, or that capacity will be taken away from non-premium customers who will quickly change to another operator.
Charging
Terry 6
Why does my (purely non-technical in these matters) nose start to twitch with the suspicion that this will evolve into Enterprise, Premium and Pleb services with charge bands to match?
"I have yet to speak to an enterprise which is planning to buy one"
Heh. The usual story with the mobile industry. They keep changing the standards, force us to buy new phones, get the actual standard working late and nobody is interested anyway.