As the world becomes increasingly digital, expectations for connectivity continue to rise each day. Regardless of size, businesses now rely on fast, stable, and customised internet solutions to support everything from daily operations to advanced innovations. Enter 5G network slicing, a transformative technology that could redefine how we think about mobile networks.
Imagine running a retail chain where one network stream is dedicated to payment transactions, another to in-store smart sensors, and a third to customer Wi-Fi, each slice optimised for its unique function. With 5G slicing, this becomes possible and practical. In this blog, we’ll check out what is network slicing in 5G, how it works, its benefits, and how businesses can use it to grow, compete, and innovate.
What Is Network Slicing in 5G?
5G network slicing creates multiple virtual networks within a single physical 5G infrastructure. Each of these "slices" operates independently and can be customised for a specific service, user group, or application.
Unlike previous generations of networks, which treated all data and services equally, 5G slicing allows operators to customise individual slices for different performance levels, latency, bandwidth, and reliability. For example, a hospital might use a slice for real-time surgery robots while another slice handles patient record systems.
In simpler terms, if the 5G network were a motorway, slicing network 5G allows you to dedicate certain lanes for emergency vehicles, public buses, or personal cars, ensuring they all move smoothly according to their needs.
How 5G Network Slicing Works
To understand how does 5G works in the context of slicing, it’s helpful to think of the 5G network as having three layers:
- Infrastructure Layer - The physical elements, like towers, fiber-optic cables, and base stations.
- Network Function Layer - The digital brains that handle routing, security, and data traffic.
- Service Layer - The final slice designed for specific business needs.
With 5G slicing, software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV) create virtual "sub-networks" over the physical infrastructure. These slices run in parallel, do not interfere with each other, and can be scaled or modified depending on demand.
For instance, a smart manufacturing plant might use a high-bandwidth, ultra-low latency slice to run robots and AI quality checks, while an administrative office within the same plant uses a standard broadband slice.
Benefits of 5G Network Slicing for Businesses
Let’s explore how 5G network slicing benefits businesses of all sizes and across sectors.
Enhanced Performance and Reliability
With 5G slicing, businesses no longer suffer from "one-size-fits-all" network performance. Slices can be designed to guarantee low latency, minimal jitter, and high bandwidth.
Real-life example: A financial services company in Bengaluru handling real-time stock trading can use a dedicated slice to ensure every millisecond counts during a trade, reducing lag and increasing reliability. This ensures that market data is processed instantly, allowing traders to act on opportunities without delay. With 5G network slicing, the company can also prioritise security within that slice, protecting sensitive financial transactions from breaches.
Customisation and Flexibility
Each business can configure its own network slice to meet specific requirements, whether it's high-speed data, enhanced security, or broader coverage.
Real-life example: An event organiser hosting a large concert can create a slice that prioritises ticketing and live streaming services while offering a separate slice to handle general attendee Wi-Fi.
This ensures that critical operations like payment processing and video streaming remain uninterrupted, even during peak network usage. Meanwhile, attendees can still enjoy seamless internet access without affecting the performance of essential event services.
Cost Efficiency and Resource Optimisation
5G network slicing allows businesses to optimise resources without investing in physical infrastructure. You only pay for what you use, reducing wastage and improving return on investment.
Real-life example: A startup launching an IoT-based home automation solution can deploy and test their services on a small slice before scaling as the user base grows, keeping costs under control.
This approach helps manage initial expenses and also ensures the network performance remains consistent as demand increases. Additionally, it allows the team to gather real-time data, refine their offering, and adapt the network slice to match evolving user needs.
