Operator worked with Samsung to generate multiple network slices in demo
KDDI conducted “a world’s first” demonstration of network slicing guaranteed by service level agreements (SLAs) via a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) in a commercial base station.
KDDI and Samsung partnered for the trial which took place last November in Tokyo and generated multiple network slices. Samsung said in a statement that it “proved the technical feasibility of multiple user equipment (UE)-based network slices with quality assurance using the RIC, which performs advanced control of RAN as defined by the O-RAN Alliance”.
Real-time resources
KDDI’s statement said this meant in the trial that resources could match, in real time, “changes in the communication environment and… to communication requests in accordance with SLAs” [from a translation of a statement in Japanese].
KDDI intends to continue R&D efforts with different partners toward “the full-scale provision of network slicing” in 2024.
Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Sales & Marketing, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics, was quoted saying in the Samsung statement, “This demonstration is another meaningful step forward in our efforts to advance technological innovation and enrich network services. We’re excited to have accomplished this together with KDDI and look forward to continued collaboration.”