Ericsson, Nokia, and Google test multiple 5G network slices on Android 13
A single Android device will be able to connect to many network slices simultaneously and switch between them thanks to technologies that Google has successfully tested. Network slicing, which effectively enables operators to divide up specific portions of the network for certain applications, is seen by operators as one of the major revenue prospects of freestanding 5G (5G SA) networks, which use a totally virtualized, cloud-based core network.
Slices can be tailored to ensure a specific speed or latency as well as to cover a specific area, enabling use cases in the industry, broadcast, healthcare, and public services. One network slice might be used to handle video traffic at a stadium, while another slice is set aside for security personnel. Although LTE supports slicing, the ultrafast speeds, increased capacity, and ultralow latency of 5G will support more sophisticated applications, while the core layer of the networks’ software-defined and cloud-based architectures will enable the flexibility and automation needed to provision and manage any number of slices.
In separate User Equipment Route Selection Policy (URSP) technology experiments with telecom equipment suppliers Ericsson and Nokia, Google was able to move between multiple slices on a single Google Pixel 6 Pro device running the Android 13 operating system. This enables developers to specify which slice should be utilized while allowing operators to configure different slices for various applications. For example, a gaming application may want a slice with low latency, while a video conferencing application needs a slice with more bandwidth.
Businesses now have more flexibility when it comes to controlling staff phones thanks to this feature. The majority of employees now use the same smartphone for both professional and personal use, with employers frequently setting up different profiles utilizing mobile device management (MDM) tools. Android 13 now lets devices add up to five enterprise-defined slices to a work profile. This is to stop business apps from using the same path as consumer traffic.
“As carriers and enterprises seek a return on their investment in 5G networks, the ability to provide for a wide and varied selection of use cases is of crucial importance. Communications service providers and enterprises that can offer customers the flexibility to take advantage of tailored network slices for both work and personal profiles on a single Android device are opening up a vast reserve of different uses of those devices. “By confirming that the new network slicing capabilities offered by Android 13 will work fully with Ericsson network technology, we are marking a significant step forward in helping the full mobile ecosystem realize the true value of 5G,” said Monica Zethzon, head of Solution Area Packet Core at Ericsson.
“New application-based URSP slicing solutions widen operator’s 5G network business opportunities,” said Ari Kynäslahti, head of technology and strategy at Nokia Mobile Networks. “We are excited to develop and test new standards-based URSP technologies with Android that will ensure that our customers can provide leading-edge enterprise and consumer services using Android devices and Nokia’s 4G/5G networks.”