To communications services providers, one of the most compelling features of 5G networks is the ability to offer customized communications solutions that can meet the needs of a wide range of use cases and users across virtually any sector. A business customer might want a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) or a virtual private network (VPN). A consumer might want voice and data services or internet access for the home. Still others might need Radio Access Network sharing or Mobile Network Operator services. Each will have different service requirements in terms of throughput, latency, load, and quality – but all can be handled over a single 5G network through network slicing. 

Network slicing enables the creation of multiple, virtual, and independent networks to deliver the unique needs of individual users or groups. But here’s the question for CSPs: What’s the best approach to manage network slicing? It’s an issue of architecture. 

Slice management architecture must be disaggregated, technology agnostic, and flexible to enable agile future extensions. Disaggregation allows each management layer to be loosely coupled and integrated over standard interfaces. This provides maximum flexibility and control, enabling CSPs to choose any communication services management function (CSMFs), network slice management function (NSMF), or network slice subnet management function (NSSMF) required to support open integrations based on industry standards. Being technology agnostic allows CSPs to independently choose evolving network technologies in radio, access, or core networks without worrying about the impact on the NSMF. Flexibility allows CSPs to independently customize and scale slice management functions based on evolving requirements. 

Standards organizations, such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), are leading the effort to standardize and further optimize slice management architecture. This enables product organizations to come up with a uniform approach towards slice management and reduces confusion for CSPs.

Background: Network Slicing

A network slice is a logical (virtual) network that contains one or more network slice subnets such as a radio access network slice subnet, transport network slice subnet, or core network slice subnet. A network service may include several virtual network functions (VNFs), physical network functions (PNFs), or cloud-native network functions (CNFs) as depicted in Figure 1. Network services may use various slice subnets based on their requirements. They may also share slice subnets with other network services.

Figure 1: The relationship between services, slices, and slice subnets

5G Slice Lifecycle Stages and Management Challenges

The lifecycle of a network slice has several stages:

• Slice preparation: Slice design and template modelling
• Slice commissioning: Slice deployment with required parameters
• Slice activation: To turn the slice “on” for the end-user
• Slice monitoring: Ensuring quality of service and quality of experience 
• Slice decommissioning: Terminating a slice that is no longer needed

A network slice can be shared among various communication services and users; a network service may be using one or more shared or dedicated network slices. This is why managing network slices becomes complex and challenging. Manual slice management methods will not scale, which adversely affects service readiness, quality of service, time to market, and the overall customer experience.

Figure 2 illustrates Wipro’s disaggregated, architectural approach to slice management.  There are three management layers:  communication service management function (CSMF), network slice management function (NSMF), and network slice subnet management function (NSSMF). These are loosely coupled and integrated over standard interface.

Figure 2: Wipro’s architectural approach to 5G network slice management 

Here’s how Wipro’s architectural approach translates into the challenge of network slice management:

• Day 0 activities like slice commissioning and on-boarding are managed by integrating an open source-based CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) pipeline with the CSMF and NSMF engines. 
• Day 1 activities like deployment and commissioning of slices and services can be performed through integrations with OSS/BSS systems on northbound interfaces and domain controllers on southbound interfaces. 
• Day 2 activities like service and slice monitoring can be performed using an assurance system, which would loop back the threshold events using a policy engine to service orchestration engine to perform closed loop management. 

Next steps

The potential of 5G communications technology is enormous, and the ability to slice and tailor networks is a substantial part that potential. But most CSPs will need external help in creating the architecture and capabilities to put that potential to work. 

Wipro has worked closely with specification bodies and open source consortiums such as ETSI, TMFORUM, ONAP, and TIP. Wipro takes a vendor-neutral and open approach to its work with CSPs to help them deploy what they consider to be best of breed elements in their ecosystem. Wipro has been investing heavily in its own 5G labs for related activities including engineering, deployment, and integration.  

To help CSPs build the right tools and approaches for network slicing, Wipro offers consulting, solution architectures, engineering, deployment, and integration services, and managed services that will help them get the most from 5G’s enormous potential. 

Learn more about Wipro and digital networks here.

Manoj Jha

Practice Head for Telco Cloud

He has 18 years of experience working with various service providers, network vendors, and system Integrators across the globe in software-defined networking and network function virtualization, orchestration and OSS domains. Currently, he heads the Telco Cloud Practice within the Comm & Tech group, which is part of Wipro’s Domain & Consulting team.

Ritika Jauhari

Principal Consultant for Telco Cloud

She has more than 11 years of experience working with service providers, network vendors, in software-defined networking and network function virtualization, orchestration and OSS domains in India and Europe. Currently, she is part of the Telco Cloud Practice within the Comm & Tech group, which is part of Wipro’s Domain & Consulting team.