NSCE layer provides value added services to VAL customers, based on consuming 5GS services related to slicing (from OAM, 5GC) and based on interacting with the VAL UE side. The variety of services and the deployment aspects depend on the different assumptions for the slice owner / provider, the slice customer and the SEAL service provider. With respect to NSCE, the NSCE server belongs to the SEAL provider (as stated in clause 5 of TS 23.434) who can be either the MNO itself, or the vertical customer (e.g. factory owner, automaker X) or the edge/cloud provider (e.g. hyperscaler) who provides such platform services related to slice capability exposure to the vertical customer on top of the MNO. Thus, NSCE can play different roles based on the business models. For example, NSCE server can be:

• deployed by NOP / MNO.
• deployed by an Edge / Cloud Provider. In this case, it is assumed that the NSCE server is acting as an authorized AF/AS.
• deployed by a vertical industry, which can be the end slice customer.

From business perspective, the following business model applies. In Figure 5-1, the different interactions among all the involved entities are provided. More specifically, in this model the end user is the consumer of the applications provided by the vertical/ASP and can have app-level service agreement with vertical/ASP(s). The end user/UE also has a PLMN subscription arrangement with the MNO. The UE used by the end user is allowed to be registered on the MNO's network. MNO (via OAM) can have a slice SLA with the vertical / ASP, which is optional when vertical customer is the NSC. In addition, due to the involvement of a NSCE service provider, additional agreements can be possible between the NSCE server and VAL/ASP layer and the NOP/MNO(s):

• the enablement service agreement between VAL/ASP layer and the NSCE service provider include the agreement on the value-added services, which in case on NSaaS these are services related to the consumed slice from NOP. So, the end customer (VAL) subscribes to NSCE server for receiving additional services for optimizing the slice utilization. In case that the NSCE server is a NSP towards VAL customer, then such agreement can relate to slice SLA (for the slice provided by the NSCE server). When the NSCE server is part of the vertical, the service agreement between VAL/ASP layer and the NSCE service provider is internal to a single organization.
• the service agreement between MNO and NSCE service provider is for consuming 5GS services (and being also authorized to provide additional services on top). Such agreement could be also a slice SLA for the scenarios when NSCE server is the NSC of the MNO (in NSaaS model).

In case of shared RAN between operators, one NSCE service provider (slice service provider) can use NSCE to offer slice services using resources of these operators to end customer (VAL) using the shared RAN via one or both operators. In case of national roaming between operators, one NSCE service provider (slice service provider) can use NSCE to offer slice services using resources of these operators to end customer (VAL).