Global tech company Nokia has announced a significant development in Multi-Access Edge Slicing, a pioneering technology that allows operators to offer advanced slicing services over 4G/5G, Fixed Wireless Access and Fixed Access. The revolutionary technology will be showcased jointly with etisalat by e& on a live network at the 2024 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
This cutting-edge technology allows for multiple application use and seamless transmission of different types of data concurrently. For instance, a 4G/5G smartphone user can send sensitive business information over a dedicated, high-performance network slice, while also partaking in a video call through another distinct slice. This technology also has implications for home networks – a family can allocate one network slice to HDTV streaming or cloud gaming, while another slice can be retained for work-related tasks, with each slice tailored for unique network attributes such as routing, bitrate, Quality of Service, latency and security.
Apart from smartphones, Nokia's newest innovation supports a range of other devices, including computers, tablets and gaming consoles. It can be effectively used for on-demand network slicing and offers seamless slice service between 4G, 5G, FWA/Wi-Fi and FA/Wi-Fi, allowing operators like etisalat by e& to deliver uniform subscriber experiences across different network technologies.
Khalid Murshed, CTIO at etisalat by e&, said, "We are committed to driving the digital future by investing in new technologies and innovations and pave the way for revolutionising the industry. We continuously focus on creating new value and Multi-Access Edge Slicing is an important step in providing innovative services for our customers."
Olivier Loridan, Senior Analyst at Omdia, commented, "Nokia's Multi-Access Edge Slicing is promising due to its seamless integration of MEC and Network Slicing. While the connectivity needs of enterprises and consumers are evolving rapidly, this tailored solution has the potential to address this new demand."
Ari Kynslahti, Head of Strategy and Technology, Mobile Networks at Nokia, remarked on the development, stating, "Working closely with our partners like etisalat by e& is very important in developing innovative solutions. The launch of Multi-Access Edge Slicing underlines Nokia’s network slicing leadership once again. With this latest innovation, we can enable operators to provide premium enterprise and consumer services that enhance the customer experience."
The Multi-Access Edge Slicing solution will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress 2024, where Nokia will exhibit its various commercially available RAN, PON, FWA CPE, transport and core products, as well as its management, control, entitlement, assurance and orchestration systems. Visitors to the stand will be able to witness firsthand the benefits of network slicing.
As a B2B technology innovation company, Nokia is focused on pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging solutions across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, Nokia states it creates value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide utilise Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today and work to create the digital services and applications of the future.