Nokia launches a new end-to-end 4G and 5G New Radio slicing

• Nokia claims that the capability can be deployed into existing LTE and 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks via a simple software upgrade.

• The user and service-aware slicing functionality has been introduced to Nokia radio access products for the first time.

• Nokia is trialing live 4G/5G slicing use cases with customers powered by a unique SDN radio slice controller as well as a transport slice controller.

Nokia has announced the launch of new end-to-end slicing network functionality for 4G and 5G New Radio (NR). Nokia is also the first vendor to offer this capability. This solution is said to support connectivity from 4G and 5G devices over the sliced network to applications running in private and public clouds and will be available this summer.
 

Nokia, in its release, said the solution can be deployed into existing LTE and 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks via a simple software upgrade, and then 5G SA networks later as they’re rolled out.
 

Network slicing is often talked about as a benefit of moving to the 5G standalone (SA) version of the NR specification (where the core no longer relies on 4G LTE), enabling logical portions or “slices” of the network to be sectioned and tailored to meet the needs of specific customers or applications.
 

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Nokia has said that there is still work to be finished in standardizing 5G SA slicing technology, and it will take time before the ecosystem is ready enough for wide scale deployments supporting 5G SA network slicing.

“Working closely with our customers to develop new technologies and business opportunities is hugely important to Nokia. 4G/5G slicing enables multiple new use cases which operators can start building now to create new revenue streams.”

-Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia.

The user and service-aware slicing functionality has been introduced to Nokia radio access products for the first time and is also supported in Nokia transport and core products with control, management and assurance systems, the equipment maker said.

The solution supports all 4G and 5G devices and works in a multi-vendor environment. It enables new mobile end-to-end services with logical connections, security, quality, and traffic management with a seamless service continuity across 4G and 5G networks. Private wireless slicing also opens up new network functionalities for different applications, such as surveillance and automation.
 

Nokia’s slicing solution is being developed in collaboration with leading operators A1 and Telia. It delivers new value and business opportunities for enterprises, as well as for the Internet of Things, Fixed Wireless Access, applications and content related services.
 

Nokia is already trialing live 4G/5G slicing use cases with customers powered by a unique Software Defined Network (SDN) radio slice controller as well as a transport slice controller. The trial includes a Nokia cloud packet core slice orchestrator to support network deployment automation as well as an SD-WAN software solution providing a managed 4G/5G network slice to private and public cloud services. Nokia assurance systems are used to verify per slice KPIs as a part of Nokia’s E2E service orchestration.
 

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“We are proud to be among the first operators worldwide who successfully demonstrated end-to-end network slicing, spanning the core, transport and radio over our 4G as well as 5G networks. For our business customers, it will be a huge advantage to be able to benefit from dedicated mobile communication services, exclusive capacities, strong data security and transmission with high reliability and low latency by integrating A1’s highly reliable and excellent infrastructure and services offering into their internal processes. Network slicing in 4G and extended in 5G will play a key role in allowing A1 to develop new market segments and revenue streams.”

- Alexander Kuchar, Director Technology & Future Services, A1 Telekom Austria Group

Jari Collin, Chief Technology Officer, Telia Finland said, “It has been really exciting to be the first operator to conduct a live test of Nokia’s new network slicing feature. As a 5G frontrunner in business customer pilots and solutions, we know that this will be a key functionality that will deliver many of the promises our customers are waiting for. With slicing, we can efficiently use our spectrum to deliver seamless and reliable connectivity and also strengthen our leading IoT position with nationwide deployment of new technologies like LTE-M and NB-IoT.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks, Nokia, also added “Working closely with our customers to develop new technologies and business opportunities is hugely important to Nokia. 4G/5G slicing enables multiple new use cases which operators can start building now to create new revenue streams.”