Crafting Customised Virtual Networks for the 5G Era and Beyond with Network Slicing

By Henry Duah

In the dynamic world of modern telecommunications, one breakthrough technology stands out as a game-changer: Network Slicing. Imagine a physical network infrastructure as a single, powerful highway that can be ideally partitioned into multiple, tailor-made express lanes, with each designed to handle specific types of traffic, unique speed limits, safety measures, and vehicle types. This is the essence of network slicing, a transformative approach that allows a single physical network, such as a 5G network, to be divided into multiple virtual networks or “slices”.

What is Network Slicing?
Network slicing is a transformative technology in modern telecommunications that enables a single physical network infrastructure, such as a 5G network, to be partitioned into multiple independent virtual networks, referred to as “slices.” Each slice is configured and optimised to meet the unique requirements of specific applications, services or customer groups, running simultaneously over the shared physical infrastructure.
Think of it as creating multiple “customised networks within a network,” each tailored with distinct performance characteristics like latency, bandwidth, reliability, and security.

How Does Network Slicing Work?
Network slicing leverages virtualisation technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV):

• SDN decouples the control plane (which decides where traffic is sent) from the data plane (which forwards traffic), enabling programmable, dynamic control of network behaviour.
• NFV transforms traditional hardware-based network functions into software applications that run on commodity servers, enabling flexible, on-demand deployment and scaling of network functions such as firewalls, load balancers or gateways.

Together, SDN and NFV enable an operator to dynamically instantiate multiple virtual networks that share the same physical network resources. Each slice can be tailored with dedicated or shared virtualised resources, policies, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Types of Network Slices
Network slices tend to be categorised based on the application’s needs:

• eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband): Optimised for high data rates and throughput (e.g., 4K/8K video streaming, AR/VR).
• URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications): Designed for mission-critical applications that need extremely low latency and high reliability (e.g., autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, remote surgery).
• mMTC (Massive Machine-Type Communications): Supports massive IoT deployments with high device density but lower individual data rates (e.g., smart meters, environmental sensors).

Key Benefits of Network Slicing

• Customizable Performance & QoS

Each slice can guarantee specific quality-of-service parameters, such as latency, bandwidth, and jitter, tailored precisely to the application’s needs, something impossible in a one-size-fits-all network.

• Resource Efficiency & Flexibility

Operators can dynamically allocate and re-allocate network resources across slices based on demand, improving overall network utilisation and reducing costs.

• Faster Service Deployment

New services can be launched quickly by creating a new slice, with pre-defined templates and orchestration tools that automate provisioning and management.

• Enhanced Security & Isolation

Each slice is isolated from others, preventing interference and providing security boundaries between different users or services, which is essential for sensitive applications such as healthcare or finance.

• Monetization Opportunities

Operators can offer specialised slices as premium or industry-specific products, such as a slice optimised for smart factories, gaming networks, or emergency responders, creating new revenue streams.

Use Cases Across Industries

• Automotive & Autonomous Vehicles

Network slices enable ultra-reliable, low-latency communication, ensuring safe and real-time vehicle-to-everything (V2X) interactions and over-the-air updates.

• Smart Cities & IoT

Massive machine connectivity slices support millions of sensors for traffic management, environmental monitoring, and public utilities without impacting broadband services.

• Healthcare

Dedicated slices can support telemedicine, remote surgery, and high-resolution medical imaging with guaranteed low latency and high security.

• Entertainment & AR/VR

Enhanced mobile broadband slices provide high-throughput connectivity, essential for immersive experiences without buffering or lag.

• Industrial Automation

Slices with ultra-low latency and high reliability enable real-time control and monitoring of robotic manufacturing lines, improving efficiency and safety.

The Future of Network Slicing
Network slicing is a crucial enabler of 5G’s full potential and is likely to evolve further with the advent of 6G. Future networks are expected to feature smart and autonomous slicing driven by AI/ML, allowing real-time predictive slice adaptation to user behaviour and environmental changes. Moreover, network slicing will extend beyond telcos to private 5G networks, which enterprises can utilise to create customised communication environments for industrial campuses, logistics hubs, and specific enterprise applications.

Get innovation insights from The FutureList weekly. Subscribe to our newsletter here