5G - a number and a letter that represent the next stopover on our collective journey into the future of telecommunications and networking. One way or another, we will all get there, one day. But what can we do differently in the mean time, starting today, in order to position ourselves and enable our customers to take full advantage of everything that 5G has to offer?
The 5G specifications define a new concept called "network slicing" - the ability to divide the network and its associated resources into virtual chunks ("slices") with distinct characteristics like latency and jitter performance, service availability and path diversity, network processing capabilities being applied, etc. In a sense, each user or group of users can be connected to their own private cloud that is tailored to meet their needs and objectives.
Network slicing can be viewed as a higher level QoS mechanism for users and enterprises. It operates on a per-connection level rather than a per-packet or per-application basis, which avoids net neutrality concerns commonly associated with traditional (paid) QoS mechanisms like DiffServ. When implemented correctly, slicing offers customers an explicit choice: Given their objectives and budget, what type of slice can they get, and how big and fast is it?
As a service provider, you also have a choice: You could create lifestyle packages that let customers choose between various connection settings. For example, there could be a premium "Gaming package" with low latency so they have an advantage in their Fortnite battles. And you could allow them to switch between packages on a weekly or monthly basis, driven by budget constraints - like bi-weekly paychecks - for example.
Or, you could offer the equivalent of a gearshift: Allow subscribers to choose the experience they want, when they need it. Have a critical remote surgery to perform? Switch to the "reliable, low latency" gear. Ready for a Netflix movie? Switch to "economic, high bandwidth" mode. More dynamic, more fine grained - more complex to implement and market as an organization, but also providing more data points to get better insight into the requirements of your subscriber base: What do they need from the mobile network, and where and when do they need it?
Today is Friday, and I'm feeling good. I would like to treat myself to a nice slice of 5G network for my communication needs. If you are a mobile service provider who is able to offer me what I need, come talk to me. If you feel that you are not in a position to provide that today - also come talk to me. Perhaps we can help each other, by having an open discussion about the evolution of networking today - so we can all benefit from having more and better informed choices, tomorrow.
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