2018-5G网络切片白皮书（英文版）-1mb

5G Service-Guaranteed Network Slicing White Paper Summary

Core Content

This white paper discusses the concept and architecture of service-guaranteed network slicing as a critical enabler for 5G networks to meet the diverse and stringent requirements of vertical industries. It outlines the vision, key technologies, and overall architecture needed to support the Internet of Everything by enabling ubiquitous, highly reliable, and ultra-low latency services for massive device connectivity.

Main Viewpoints

1. Industry Trends and Requirements

• 5G is envisioned as a support for IoT and new industries, which will require extremely large numbers of connections and diverse service types.
• The three typical 5G service scenarios are:
  • Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): High data rate services such as HD video, VR, AR, and FMC.
  • Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC): Latency-sensitive services such as self-driving, remote surgery, and drone control.
  • Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC): Services requiring high connection density such as smart city and smart agriculture.
• Key requirements include:
  • Guaranteed performance: Meeting strict latency, data rate, and reliability demands.
  • Fast deployment and short TTM: Reducing the time required to bring new services to market.
  • Resource multiplexing and isolation: Efficiently managing resources while ensuring security and performance for different services.
  • Automation: Enabling self-diagnosis, self-healing, and auto-configuration for efficient network operations.
  • New ecosystem and business models: Supporting collaboration between operators, vendors, and vertical industries.
  • Convergence of fixed and mobile access: Ensuring a consistent user experience regardless of access technology.

2. Visions of Service-Guaranteed Network Slicing

• Vision 1: Provide guaranteed performance to meet the fundamental service requirements of vertical industries.
• Vision 2: Offer customized services to enhance the competence of vertical industries, including reduced operational and capital costs, and shortened TTM.
• Service-guaranteed network slicing aims to create multiple logical networks on the same physical infrastructure, each tailored to specific service requirements, thus offloading complexity from vertical industries.

3. Overall Architecture of Service-Guaranteed Network Slicing

• The architecture consists of three layers:
  • Infrastructure Layer: Provides physical and virtualized resources (computing, storage, connectivity).
  • Network Slice Layer: Offers E2E logical networks through Network Slice Instances (NSIs).
  • Network Management Layer: Contains Network Slice Management (NSM) system for designing, managing, and assuring SLA compliance.
• Key features of the architecture:
  • Common infrastructure for multiple NSIs.
  • On-demand customization across technical domains.
  • Isolation (resource, O&M, security) to ensure service integrity.
  • Guaranteed performance through E2E coordination.
  • Scalability enabled by virtualization.
  • O&M capability exposure for tenants.
  • Support for multi-vendor and multi-operator scenarios.

4. Key Technologies to Enable Service-Guaranteed Network Slicing

4.1 Network Management System (NSM)

• NSM Architecture includes:
  • Slice Support System (SSS): Manages network slice templates and NSI lifecycle (provisioning, runtime assurance, decommissioning).
  • Domain Slice Support System (DSS): Manages subnets in each technical domain (AN, CN, TN).
• NSM tasks:
  • Ensuring E2E SLA compliance.
  • Supporting AI-based prediction of network status changes.
  • Being either standalone or integrated with OSS.

4.1.2 Network Capability Exposure via BSS

• The Business Support System (BSS) provides abstracted network capabilities to tenants.
• Supports design, purchasing, deployment, and monitoring of network slicing products.
• Offers packaged NSIs as commercial products with defined pricing and sales territory.

4.1.3 Third-party Applications

• Third-party applications can be deployed on NSIs to meet specific tenant needs.
• Edge computing is used to reduce transmission latency and improve performance.
• Deployment positions can be static or dynamic, depending on service requirements and network conditions.

4.2 Security

• Three security aspects are considered:
  • Infrastructure Security: Ensuring logical isolation between NSIs, especially in NFV environments.
  • Network Management Security: Protecting the NSI lifecycle (design, provisioning, runtime, decommissioning).
  • NSI Security: Embedding security mechanisms (anchors, functions) into the logical network architecture.
• Security isolation is essential to prevent cross-NSI attacks and ensure data confidentiality and integrity.
• Customized security mechanisms are required based on service type:
  • eMBB: Requires strict authentication and encryption.
  • mMTC: Needs lightweight security algorithms.
  • URLLC: Demands quick access authentication and strong encryption.

4.3 Enabling Technologies for Different Technical Domains

• Access Network (AN):
  • Supports logical isolation, customization, and guaranteed SLA.
  • Uses resource multiplexing and flexible air interface designs.
  • RAT and MAC scheduling enable time- and frequency-domain isolation.
• Core Network (CN):
  • Focuses on network function virtualization and customized routing.
• Transport Network (TN):
  • Ensures low-latency and high-reliability for URLLC services.
• Terminal:
  • May be involved in NSI selection based on service type.
  • Simple terminals (e.g., sensors) are typically static and one-to-one with NSIs.

Key Information

• Network slicing is a key enabler for 5G to support diverse vertical industries.
• NSIs are E2E logical networks that can be customized and isolated.
• NSM system is crucial for designing, provisioning, and managing NSIs.
• Security is a critical concern across all layers and domains.
• Customization and automation are essential to meet the flexibility and scalability demands of 5G.

Conclusion and Suggestions

• The service-guaranteed network slicing concept is vital for achieving the 5G vision.
• It enables efficient resource utilization, rapid deployment, and customized services.
• Collaboration between operators, vendors, and vertical industries is necessary to build a new telecom ecosystem.
• Further development of AI and automation techniques is recommended for enhancing network management.
• Standardization and interoperability across domains and operators are critical for successful implementation.