What are the key challenges in implementing end-to-end network slicing in the 5G Core network?

End-to-end network slicing in the 5G Core network involves creating and managing logically isolated networks to meet diverse service requirements. Each network slice is tailored to specific needs such as low latency, high bandwidth, or massive device connectivity. Implementing end-to-end network slicing in the 5G Core network poses several technical challenges:

1. Resource Management and Allocation:
   • Dynamic Resource Allocation: Allocating resources dynamically based on the varying requirements of different slices is a challenge. Ensuring efficient utilization and avoiding resource contention among slices is crucial.
   • Isolation: Maintaining strict isolation between slices to prevent interference and resource conflicts is technically challenging, especially in a dynamic and shared infrastructure.
2. Slice Lifecycle Management:
   • Slice Creation and Termination: Efficiently creating, modifying, and terminating slices dynamically without affecting other slices or the overall network performance is a complex task.
   • Orchestration: Coordinating and orchestrating the entire lifecycle of a network slice across multiple domains, such as radio access, transport, and core networks, requires seamless interoperability.
3. QoS (Quality of Service) Assurance:
   • Guaranteeing QoS: Ensuring that each network slice meets its defined QoS requirements, including latency, throughput, and reliability, is a significant challenge. This involves both radio and core network optimizations.
   • Perceived QoS: Managing and meeting the perceived QoS expectations of end-users for specific services within a slice is critical.
4. Security and Isolation:
   • Slice Isolation: Ensuring strong isolation between network slices to prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data is crucial. This includes securing both control and user plane communications.
   • Security Orchestration: Coordinating security measures across the entire network, including different slices, to protect against evolving cyber threats is a constant challenge.
5. Interoperability:
   • Multi-vendor Environment: Achieving interoperability between network elements from different vendors is a complex task. Standards play a crucial role, but ensuring seamless integration and cooperation is an ongoing challenge.
   • Cross-Domain Interoperability: Ensuring interoperability across radio, transport, and core network domains requires standardized interfaces and protocols, as well as effective coordination mechanisms.
6. Management and Orchestration (MANO):
   • End-to-End Orchestration: Coordinating and managing the entire network slice lifecycle across various network functions and domains demands a robust MANO system.
   • Real-time Adaptability: The MANO system must be capable of making real-time decisions to adapt to changing network conditions and service requirements.
7. Service Level Agreements (SLA) Management:
   • Dynamic SLA Enforcement: Enforcing SLAs dynamically based on the changing conditions and requirements of network slices is challenging. This involves continuous monitoring and adjustment to meet service commitments.
   • SLA Negotiation: Efficiently negotiating and establishing SLAs between different entities in the network, including network operators and service providers, is a complex process.