BT Group, Ericsson, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have effectively showcased the implementation of end-to-end 5G connectivity for both consumers and enterprises utilizing network slicing technology on Ericsson’s 5G Core and Radio Access Network in the UK. This demonstration utilized devices powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Mobile Platform.
Conducted at Adastral Park, BT Group’s hub for research and innovation, the trial established network slices dedicated to Gaming, Enterprise, and Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB). It demonstrated the capability of dynamically allocating portions of the 5G SA network to specific use-cases, ensuring optimal performance for bandwidth-intensive activities like mobile gaming and video conferencing, even during peak usage periods.
The surge in mobile gaming traffic, nearly doubling on EE – the UK’s leading mobile gaming network – since early 2023, highlights the importance of consistent low-latency, jitter-free experiences. Network slicing is anticipated to play a crucial role in enhancing performance and fostering growth in the 5G SA era.
Collaborating seamlessly, BT Group, Ericsson, and Qualcomm Technologies showcased an exemplary mobile cloud gaming experience on Nvidia’s GeForce Now. The demonstration maintained throughput well above the recommended 25 Mbps at 1080p, even under background load conditions. Utilizing the Samsung S23 Ultra device equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Mobile Platform, Ericsson implemented Network slicing and Radio Resource Partitioning on EE’s Network to ensure a smooth gaming experience. A comparison with a non-optimized eMBB RAN partition revealed a suboptimal gaming experience due to congestion from background load.
Furthermore, the trial affirmed the potential of network slicing for BT Group’s business customers. By configuring enterprise and eMBB slices via URSP rules, allowing a device to connect to multiple network slices simultaneously based on the application, the trial demonstrated consistent 4K video streaming and enterprise use-cases on the Samsung S23 Ultra device powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. The Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing feature, Radio Resource Partitioning, ensured optimal performance for enterprise traffic.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, emphasized the significance of network slicing in delivering new capabilities in the 5G SA era, considering it a substantial milestone towards the launch of their own 5G SA network. Enrico Salvatori, Senior Vice President and President, Qualcomm Europe/MEA of Qualcomm Europe, Inc., expressed pride in collaborating on the network slicing trial, highlighting the enhanced performance and flexibility that 5G Standalone capabilities, like network slicing, bring to consumers and enterprises.
Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK & Ireland, noted that 5G standalone and network slicing demonstrate the ability of leading operators, such as EE, to offer tailored connectivity for specific applications. This advancement in connectivity is expected to enable new service offerings for consumers and businesses, driving future growth and innovation across various industries in the UK.
