Extending 5G network slicing to the RAN

The deployment of 5G networks as a platform for supporting new applications and services has led to limited radio resources such as spectrum and hardware. Communications service providers (CSPs) must develop RAN slicing capabilities to guarantee a high quality of service (QoS) and to strengthen end-to-end network slicing.

This report provides information about:

• the challenges and requirements for network slicing in the RAN domain
• the key enablers of RAN slicing, including automation, virtualisation and software-defined networking (SDN)
• CSPs’ approach to RAN slicing to support new 5G services and to strengthen end-to-end network slicing.