Network slicing: Why private 5G is more than just another wireless network

There was a time when being connected digitally also meant being physically connected. Wires running along office floors, factory ceilings and production lines were a common sight. Yes, they had their physical limitations, but when devices, machinery and critical systems were wired in, there was stability and a sense of control and security. Everything performed as expected.  

Then, the wireless era started and changed not only the way organizations connected but also how they operate. Without the wires, there was much more freedom: People could work from anywhere, systems could be moved to support operations, and workspaces could change without significant changes to the network.

The trade-off is that wireless networks are shared and often overcrowded. Business-critical systems compete with everything and everyone else on the network, and this affects their performance and security.

Private 5G: Wireless connectivity with the benefits of being wired

Private 5G addresses the problem of having to choose between control and flexibility. It recognizes that connectivity is important, but it’s not the full picture. Organizations want the flexibility that wireless connection brings to the table, but they also need that connection to be reliable and consistent, regardless of any other traffic on the network.

They want control over how systems share the network, and the assurance that performance won’t change when another device needs more bandwidth.

With private 5G, you have all of that in one package: performance, speed, low latency and scalability, and the ability to control how different systems use the network.

That makes private 5G not just another way to connect things but an altogether different approach to wireless networking — and network slicing unlocks its full potential.

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The power behind network slicing

Network slicing isn’t a new kid on the block — far from it. Earlier versions of the concept have been used on public networks for years to separate and manage different types of traffic running on the same infrastructure.

However, its implementation has been limited by legacy technologies, shared infrastructure and competing priorities. Capacity is shared, control is limited and performance is guaranteed only up to a point, depending on what else is using the network at the time, and how busy the network is.

True network slicing works as intended only on an end-to-end, native 5G network — something that few public networks have today.

In a private 5G environment, the network is designed with slicing in mind. There is no legacy core to work with, no competing consumer traffic and no need to balance enterprise needs against public demand. The same organization that defines how the network is used also controls how it is built and which systems have priority at any given time. Also, enterprise networks are segmented by design. The ability to extend the segmentation concepts to the wireless environment in a meaningful way is therefore a critical requirement.

This is where network slicing comes into its own. Instead of being an overlay on top of shared infrastructure, it becomes a fundamental part of how the network operates. Resources can be set aside deliberately, different systems can be isolated from each other, and performance can be defined up-front and protected, even as the network grows or demand shifts. Importantly, critical systems get the resources they need, no matter how many other devices come online, or what they are.

Designing networks around difference

How does this play out in different industries? In manufacturing, machines with access to a dedicated slice of the network can keep working without interruption. In logistics, network slicing protects mobile systems that rely on constant connectivity while still supporting scanners, sensors and other IoT devices. And in environments that rely heavily on video — whether for quality control, safety monitoring or security — it allows high-bandwidth traffic without overwhelming systems that can’t be disrupted.

While network slicing makes this kind of separation possible, private 5G makes it practical.

Each slice of a private 5G network can be set up with its own rules. That includes how much priority the “slice” gets, how it handles traffic and how it’s secured. Some slices can be tuned for low latency and others for reliability or scale, depending on what a system needs to do its job properly.

Security is handled in the same way. Systems that should never talk to each other, don’t. Sensitive traffic can be isolated from the rest of the network by design, and a different quality of service can be set for different systems, instead of everything being treated in the same way. Organizations design their networks like this today, so these features are to be expected. Prior to 5G, the wireless environment was largely treated as a bundled, shared environment as a whole, owing to the limitations of segmentation and quality of service control.

Beyond theory: Network slicing that works for you

Designing wireless networks around intent is one thing; making it work in real environments is another.

Private 5G sits at the intersection of enterprise networking and mobile technology. Getting real value from it requires a clear understanding of both. At NTT DATA, we have deep experience in enterprise IT and private 5G deployments, as well as expertise in integrating them into complex operational environments.

Working closely with your organization, we’ll help you make sense of the technology, plan the design and create a practical, resilient and fit-for-purpose network.

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