Network slicing as a service: enabling enterprises' own software-defined cellular networks

TLDR

Network functions virtualization and software‑defined networking have made networks more agile, enabling operators to launch services quickly, while network slicing offers a way to create dedicated logical networks from virtualized resources. This article introduces hierarchical NSaaS, a framework that lets operators provide customized end‑to‑end cellular networks as a service. The authors describe a hierarchical NSaaS architecture that includes service orchestration, SLA mapping for quality assurance, and a step‑by‑step process for deploying slices within operators. They argue that NSaaS will transform operators into production systems that merge operations and business, enabling more agile slice creation for vertical industries.

Abstract

With the blossoming of network functions virtualization and software-defined networks, networks are becoming more and more agile with features like resilience, programmability, and open interfaces, which help operators to launch a network or service with more flexibility and shorter time to market. Recently, the concept of network slicing has been proposed to facilitate the building of a dedicated and customized logical network with virtualized resources. In this article, we introduce the concept of hierarchical NSaaS, helping operators to offer customized end-to-end cellular networks as a service. Moreover, the service orchestration and service level agreement mapping for quality assurance are introduced to illustrate the architecture of service management across different levels of service models. Finally, we illustrate the process of network slicing as a service within operators by typical examples. With network slicing as a service, we believe that the supporting system will transform itself to a production system by merging the operation and business domains, and enabling operators to build network slices for vertical industries more agilely.