Huawei and Industry Partners Unveil the Network Slicing Self-Management White Paper

[Shanghai, China, November 12, 2020] The 5G Network Slicing Summit was successfully held at the Global MBB Forum 2020. Huawei, together with other 5G Slicing Association (5GSA) members released the Network Slicing Self-Management White Paper. These members include China Mobile Research Institute, China Unicom, China Telecom Research Institute, China Electric Power Research Institute, Tencent, China Sports Media, Gree, Digital Domain Group, and AsiaInfo Technologies. The white paper analyzes the common requirements on network slicing self-management between industries, proposes a management solution and architecture, and suggests a roadmap for industry development.

Release of the white paper: Network Slicing Self-Management White Paper

No B2B market can be established without network slicing, which is one of the key solutions differentiating 5G from 4G, and is a cornerstone for the digitalization of all industries. As network slicing pilots sprout up in the B2B field, more and more industry players are acknowledging how crucial network slicing is to achieving their digital transformation goals. As for how to achieve these goals, there is one thing they all agree on: an automated slicing management system will accelerate the transformation, and this system must be open to tenants for self-management.

5GSA has conducted extensive surveying and research on network slicing management to formulate this white paper. This paper is an extension of the Categories and Service Levels of Network Slicing White Paper released in March 2020, and centers on slicing self-management. It analyzes the common requirements on network slicing self-management between industries, with multimedia, electric power, industrial Internet, and healthcare sectors as representatives.

In terms of maintenance and operations, the fields requiring differentiated SLA/QoS and strict isolation and possessing strong ICT capabilities, such as power grid, industrial applications, and cloud gaming, have higher self-management requirements.

Based on the survey results of slice self-management requirements in key verticals and the 3GPP-standard 5G network architecture, the white paper proposes a four-layer architecture of the network slicing management plane and explains its key capabilities, aiming to provide reference for operator network construction. The four layers are the slice capability exposure platform, Communication Service Management Function (CSMF), Network Slice Management Function (NSMF), and Network Sub-Slice Management Function (NSSMF).

It is not easy to achieve 5G slicing self-management. Based on the industry requirements and progress, and service complexity, the white paper suggested a three-phase approach. To reach the goal, all industry partners need to work together to unlock new business and operation models with network slicing. With joint efforts, we can standardize slicing products, workflows, and business models, verify technologies, and fast track commercialization. Together, we can create a prosperous B2B market with network slicing.

Click here to read the Network Slicing Self-Management White Paper.