Nokia yesterday announced a breakthrough Multi-Access Edge Slicing innovation that will be showcased together with e& UAE on a live network at Mobile World Congress 2024 Barcelona. Multi-Access Edge Slicing allows e& UAE to offer new premium slicing services across 4G/5G, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Fixed Access (FA) that can support several use cases and applications simultaneously.
With Multi-Access Edge Slicing, e& UAE can enable a 4G/5G smartphone user to send business-sensitive information using a secure and high-performing network slice while also participating in a video call using another slice at the same time. With a multi-sliced FWA or FA network, a family could use one slice to access services such as HDTV streaming or cloud gaming while another slice could be used for home working via a laptop. Both slices could be tailored to have different network characteristics depending on their specific requirements such as routing, bit rate, QoS, latency and security.
Nokia’s latest innovation supports laptops, tablets, game consoles, IoT devices as well as 4G/5G smartphones including new URSP (UE Route Selection Policy) capable multi-slice smartphones. It can also be used for on-demand network slicing. For example, a subscriber could order and activate a slice for a gaming application running at the edge cloud with an enhanced network performance, low latency, and sliced edge.
It also supports slice service continuity between 4G, 5G, FWA/Wi-Fi and FA/Wi-Fi. This enables e& UAE to provide the same subscriber experience across all access network technologies. Nokia’s solution is based on industry standards including 3GPP and IETF and works seamlessly in multi-vendor networks.
Multi-Access Edge Slicing complements Nokia’s 5G edge slicing and recently announced edge cloud network slicing solution portfolio. This enables operators to provide 4G/5G Virtual Private Network services for enterprises and industries over a campus, city, or wider area. Scalable and cost-efficient edge slicing supports several enterprise VPN deployments using the same 4G/5G network.
Khalid Murshed, CTIO at e& UAE
We are committed to driving the digital future by investing in new technologies and innovations and pave the way for revolutionizing 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
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 Kynäslahti, Head of Strategy and Technology, Mobile Networks at Nokia
Working closely with e& UAE 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.
