Network slicing in future mobile networks: from the Core Network to the Radio Access Network

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Future mobile networks, including 5G and 6G, are envisioned to be multi-service networks providing support for various vertical markets. Corresponding use cases have highly heterogeneous and diverse requirements. Existing mobile network technologies lack the flexibility that allows them to accommodate these use cases. As a result, network slicing has recently emerged as a key concept that allows tackling this challenge. It does so by enabling the creation of network slices, consisting of logical networks, on top of a single physical network, on a per-service basis, while considering their respective requirements. Network slicing has received significant attention over the past few years in the literature. Yet, realizing the vision of a slicing-based network remains far from being an easy goal to achieve today. In this proposal, I aim to contribute to ongoing research efforts in this direction and to address the following questions: i) How to enable an efficient end-to-end resource allocation for network slices? ii) How to create realistic traffic models for the evaluation of network slicing solutions? iii) How to design an end-to-end network slicing architecture that satisfies network-slicing requirements? iv) How to manage end devices mobility in network slices? The questions above are either left unanswered in the literature or corresponding investigations remain very limited. In this proposal, I aim to answer these questions, while employing analytical and pragmatic approaches. For algorithmic tasks, we will use mathematical optimization tools to model the problem, and we will design and evaluate proper algorithms to solve it. For traffic analysis tasks, we will be employing traffic traces to extract relevant information and build realistic traffic models. Finally, for architectural tasks, we will be relying on a set of defined requirements and use cases to design the system architecture. Both simulation-based and experimentation-based evaluations will be considered. This proposal is meant to have an impact at different levels. First, the project will help form highly qualified experts in future mobile networks. I plan to conduct the work with a team of 4 students who will acquire a rich set of technical and soft skills, needed for academic and industrial careers. Second, the team will be contributing to a hot research topic, with the plan of publishing the outcome of our research in top-tier venues. In addition, the outcome of our work can be used to derive guidelines for real-world implementations of future mobile networks. These solutions can offer higher profits for mobile operators, enable slice tenants to provide value-added services and offer end-users a better quality of service. Third, the telecommunications industry holds very promising development opportunities for Canada's economy. Our theoretical and applied research work will further help foster the growth of this sector, with investigations on latest technologies.