Network slicing is a key feature for 5G. Network slicing is a paradigm where logical networks/partitions are created, with appropriate isolation, resources and optimized topology to serve a purpose or service category (e.g. use case/traffic category, or for MNO internal reasons) or customers (logical system created "on demand").
The present document specifies the concepts, use cases and requirements for management of network slicing in mobile networks. The 3GPP management system directly manages only the parts of the network that consist of network functions specified in 3GPP (e.g. 5G RAN, 5G CN and IMS). For the network functions specified by other SDOs, the management impact of network slicing is addressed as required. For example, regarding the Transport Network (TN) part supporting connectivity within and between CN and RAN parts, 3GPP management system may provide link requirements (e.g. topology, QOS parameters) to the TN management system.
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present document.
References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or non-specific.
For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same Release as the present document.
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in TR 21.905.
network slice:
a logical network that provides specific network capabilities and network characteristics, supporting various service properties for network slice customers.
NetworkSlice instance:
A Managed Object Instance (MOI) of NetworkSlice IOC.
network slice subnet:
a representation of a set of network functions and the associated resources (e.g. compute, storage and networking resources) supporting network slice.
NetworkSliceSubnet instance:
A Managed Object Instance (MOI) of NetworkSliceSubnet IOC.
Service Level Specification (SLS):
a set of service level requirements associated with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to be satisfied by a network slice.
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in TR 21.905 and the following apply. An abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in TR 21.905.
CSC