Techno-economic analysis framework for 5G network slicing

Abstract

It is anticipated that Fifth Generation (5G) networks will provide cheaper and diverse services, which will support vertical markets, such as agriculture, health care and, as depicted in Figure 1, many others. 5G network architectures will support multi-tenancy, as well as access to both mobile and fixed access networks, where different networking policies will be enforced. Network slicing is considered as a key enabling technology in 5G networks to accommodate different use cases for the vertical markets, as well as multi-tenancy over a single network infrastructure efficiently. As shown in Figure 2, network slicing allows for a network to be divided in an elastic, scalable and dynamic manner to provide for different services with different qualities of service as required. Although the introduction of 5G networks using network slicing technology brings about greater support and flexibility of new services, it also brings about business and economic challenges that need to be addressed. As the number of technical 5G network architecture designs using different types of network slicing emerges, it is important to perform calculations to identify cost efficiency combinations of technologies and functionalities. This study intends to identify a 5G network slicing framework and determine techno-economics analysis thereof.