Ericsson launches 5G RAN slicing

 New software solution enables communications service providers to deliver innovative 5G use cases to consumers and enterprises with guaranteed performance

 Built on Ericsson radio expertise and a scalable and flexible architecture, the new solution supports customised business models and growth requirements of advanced use cases

 Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing strengthens end-to-end network slicing capabilities needed to deliver different services over a common infrastructure

Ericsson has launched a 5G network slicing solution for radio access networks (RAN) that will enable communications service providers to deliver customised 5G services with guaranteed performance. As 5G scales up, service providers are looking to maximise returns on investment by targeting innovative and high revenue-generating use cases such as cloud gaming, smart factories, and smart healthcare.

Now commercially available, Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing allocates radio resources at 1-millisecond scheduling and supports multi-dimensional service differentiation handling across slices. This strengthens end-to-end slicing capabilities for dynamic resource management and orchestration that ensure the high-quality end-user experience required by diverse use cases.

Network slicing supports multiple logical networks for different service types over a common infrastructure. It is a key enabler for unlocking 5G revenue opportunities such as enhanced video, in-car connectivity, and extended reality. An Ericsson report estimates that the addressable consumer market for service providers will be worth US$712 billion by 2030. The addressable market for network slicing alone in the enterprise segment is projected to be worth US$300 billion by 2025 (GSMA data).

Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson said, “Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing dynamically optimises radio resources to deliver significantly more spectrum-efficient radio access network slicing. What makes our solution distinct is that it boosts end-to-end management and orchestration support for fast and efficient service delivery.

"This gives service providers the differentiation and guaranteed performance needed to monetise 5G investments with diverse use cases. With 5G as (an) innovation platform, we continue to drive value for our customers.”

Network slicing is a major 5G deployment model. Ericsson has ongoing 5G network slicing engagements for RAN, transport, core network and orchestration across the globe involving use cases for the consumer segment and enterprises/industry verticals such as video-assisted remote operations, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), TV/media for sports event streaming, cloud gaming, smart cities, plus use cases for Industry 4.0 and public safety.

Toshikazu Yokai, Executive Officer, Chief Director of Mobile Technology at KDDI said: “End-to-end slicing is key to monetising 5G investment and RAN slicing will help make that happen. Across different slices in our mobile networks, RAN slicing will deliver the quality assurance and latency required by our customers.”

Sue Rudd, Director, Networks and Service Platforms, Strategy Analytics said: “Ericsson is the first vendor to offer a fully end-to-end solution with RAN slicing based on dynamic radio resource partitioning in under 1 millisecond using embedded radio control mechanisms to assure quality of service, over the air, in real time. 

"This truly end-to-end approach integrates radio optimisation with policy-controlled network orchestration to deliver inherently secure virtualised private RAN slicing without the loss of the 30–40% spectrum capacity due to ‘hard slicing’. Ericsson’s real-time dynamic RAN slicing bridges the ‘RAN gap’ to make e2e* slicing profitable.”

*E2E is short for 'end to end'.