Nokia’s automated 5G network slicing slashes delivery times

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Nokia has announced the world’s first automated 4G and 5G network slicing within RAN, transport and core domains, enabling services to be rolled out in minutes.

Nokia 5G network slicing announcement.
(Image credit: Nokia.)

Nokia has become the first company to offer automation of 4G and 5G network slicing across all network domains, including RAN, transport and core. 

Network slicing is a critical part of 5G networking, as it enables operators to create multiple virtual networks, which can be tailored to specific 5G use cases. And Nokia has now introduced network management, controller and orchestration capabilities, which the company says can deliver network slicing services within minutes, instead of hours or days.

“By adding extreme automation capabilities, we are offering operators a single, modular solution."

Sasa Nijemcevic, Nokia.

“Nokia is the first vendor to provide slicing in LTE and 5G networks in a multi-vendor network environment,” said Sasa Nijemcevic, head of network automation for Nokia’s IP/optical networks business. “By adding extreme automation capabilities, we are offering operators a single, modular solution that helps them deliver a new wealth of services at unprecedented speeds.”

Best performing slicing services

Nokia’s new automated slicing –  which is an extension of the 4G/5G end-to-end network slicing solution Nokia announced in February – is expected to roll-out to customers by the end of 2020, and complies fully with the 3GPP and IETF slicing specifications.

"End-to-end network automation and assurance are critical for us to enable best performing slicing services."

Janne Koistinen, Telia Finland.

“Telia is a global forerunner in 4G/5G network slicing, working for end-to-end network slicing since 2019 with Nokia,” said Janne Koistinen, 5G program director at Telia Finland. “Our customers require flexible, reliable and secure slicing services, available when and where needed. End-to-end network automation and assurance are critical for us to enable best performing slicing services with efficiency and high quality.”

Nokia’s new slicing management consists of radio, transport and core domain controllers and assurance tools. And according to Nokia, controllers will support real-time slice operations and automation for the “creation, modification and deletion of a large number of slices in their respective, multivendor domain”.

Operators will now be able to provide new slicing services for small, medium or large enterprises, with the new slicing capabilities being included in Nokia’s existing NetAct and SON/Self-Organizing Networks (radio) and Network Services Platform/NSP (transport and core) operations and assurance products.

Dan Oliver
Dan Oliver

Dan is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. Dan is now editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G.