Efficient flexibility and higher system scalability call for enhanced network performance, better energy consumption, lower infrastructure cost, and effective resource utilization. To accomplish this, an architectural optimization and reconstruction of existing cellular network is required. Network slicing is considered to be one of the key enablers and an architectural answer of communication system of 2020 and beyond. Traditional mobile operators provide all types of services to various kinds of customers through a single network, however, with the deployment of network slicing operators are now able to divide entire network into different slices each with its own configuration and specific Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. In a slice-based network, each slice will be considered as a separate logical network. In this way, the infrastructure utilization and resource allocation will be much more energy and cost efficient in comparison to traditional network. In this paper, we provided a comprehensive discussion on concept and system architecture of network slicing with particular focus on its business aspect and profit modeling. We throughly discussed two different dimensions of profit modeling, so called Own-Slice Implementation and Resource Leasing for Outsourced Slices. We further addressed open research directions and existing challenges with the purpose of motivating new advances and adding realistic solutions to this emerging technology.
Moreover, @cite_1 , @cite_6 , and @cite_0 focused on deployment of network slicing over the RAN architecture of mobile networks. Authors in @cite_1 analyzed network slicing in multi-cell RAN in order to support radio resource splitting among various slices. This paper further proposed four types of RAN slicing approaches along with their detailed comparison. However, authors in @cite_6 explained how network slicing may impact various aspects of design and functions of RAN architecture of 5G mobile networks. The paper thoroughly covered RAN requirements for network slicing implementation. In @cite_0 , authors provided a comprehensive discussion on deployment of network slicing in heterogeneous Cloud-RAN (C-RAN) in order to improve throughput through computation and communication resource sharing.
@cite_0 @cite_1 @cite_6
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Research on network slicing for multi-tenant heterogeneous cloud radio access networks (H-CRANs) is still in its infancy. In this paper, we redefine network slicing and propose a new network slicing framework for multi-tenant H-CRANs. In particular, the network slicing process is formulated as a weighted throughput maximization problem that involves sharing of computational resources, fronthaul capacity, physical remote radio heads and radio resources. The problem is then jointly solved using a sub-optimal greedy approach and a dual decomposition method. Simulation results demonstrate that the framework can flexibly scale the throughput performance of multiple tenants according to the user priority weights associated with the tenants. Network slicing is a fundamental capability for future 5G networks to properly support current and envisioned future application scenarios. Network slicing facilitates a cost-effective deployment and operation of multiple logical networks over a common physical network infrastructure such that each network is customized to best serve the needs of specific applications (e.g., mobile broadband, Internet of Things applications) and or communications service providers (e.g., special purpose service providers for different sectors such as public safety, utilities, smart city, and automobiles). Slicing a RAN becomes particularly challenging due to the inherently shared nature of the radio channel and the potential influence that any transmitter may have on any receiver. In this respect, this article analyzes the RAN slicing problem in a multi-cell network in relation to the RRM functionalities that can be used as a support for splitting the radio resources among the RAN slices. Four different RAN slicing approaches are presented and compared from different perspectives, such as the granularity in the assignment of radio resources and the degrees of isolation and customization. Network slicing addresses the deployment of multiple logical networks as independent business operations on a common physical infrastructure. The concept has initially been proposed for the 5 th Generation (5G) core network (CN) however, it has not been investigated yet what network slicing would represent to the design of the 5G radio access network (RAN). The paper explains how network slicing may impact several aspects of the 5G RAN design such as the protocol architecture, the design of network functions (NFs) and the management framework that needs to support both the management of the infrastructure to be shared among the slices and the slice operation.