5G Slicing enables the partitioning of physical 5G core and RAN Networks into one or more logical networks.
Each network slice is isolated end-to-end and tailored to fulfil diverse requirements that a particular service requests. This technology allows multiple 5G services to use one or many 5G slices, and one 5G service can use multiple 5G slices, depending on the specific needs of the service.
In the era of 5G, diverse use cases and services have different requirements in terms of latency, reliability, bandwidth, security, and quality.
Network slicing allows the creation of dedicated network resources tailored to various business customers, paving the way for the provisioning of specialized services.
Example of 5G Service and 5G Slice Relationship
To illustrate the relationship between 5G services and 5G slices, let’s consider three main types of 5G services that use network slicing: Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC)
- .eMBB: This service focuses on providing high data rates and improved broadband experiences for users. A network slice tailored for eMBB would prioritize high bandwidth and capacity to support data-intensive applications like video streaming and virtual reality.
- mMTC: This service is designed to support a massive number of connected devices, such as IoT sensors and smart meters. A network slice for mMTC would prioritize the efficient handling of a large number of connections with lower data rates and power consumption.
- URLLC: This service aims to deliver secure communications with ultra-low latency, high reliability, and minimal data packet loss. A network slice for URLLC would prioritize low latency and high reliability, making it suitable for applications like autonomous vehicles and remote surgery.
In this example, each 5G service has unique requirements, and network slicing allows the creation of dedicated network resources tailored to these needs. A single 5G service may use multiple slices to meet its requirements, or multiple 5G services may share a single slice if their requirements align. This flexibility in resource allocation enables efficient utilization of network resources and ensures that diverse services can coexist on the same physical network infrastructure.
One such example is the use of slicing to broadcast a sporting event like the Tour de France. The PSR (Product, Service, Resource) model for this is as follows.

How this PSR relates to the CFS/RFS model was presented logically in a previous post to be described further in the next post.