4.5 Network slice subnet concepts

28.5303GPPConcepts, use cases and requirementsManagement and orchestrationRelease 17TS

The network slice subnet represents a group of network functions (including their corresponding resources) that form part or complete constituents of a network slice. The grouping of the network functions allows the management of each group of network functions to be conducted independently of the network slice.

The network slice subnet concepts include the following aspects:

– A network slice subnet constituent may include network function(s) and other constituent network slice subnet(s).

– A network slice subnet may be shared by two or more network slices, this is called a shared constituent of network slice. This sharing may be direct or indirect. The direct sharing implies that the network slice subnet is offered as network slice multiple times. The indirect sharing implies that the network slice subnet is either a constituent of a network slice subnet shared by two or more network slices, or is shared by two or more network slice subnet(s) which are in turn offered as different network slices.

– A network slice subnet may be shared by two or more network slice subnet(s), this is also called a shared constituent of network slice subnet. The sharing may be direct or indirect. The direct sharing implies that network slice subnet is a constituent of two or more network slice subnets. The indirect sharing implies that network slice subnet is a constituent of a shared network slice subnet.

– A network slice subnet that is dedicated to one network slice and is not shared as a constituent by two or more network slice subnet(s) is called a non-shared network slice subnet.

– A network slice subnet may contain instances of CN network functions only, or instances of AN network functions only, or any combination thereof.

– A network slice subnet may additionally have information representing a set of links with capacities to provide connection between network functions. This information is also known as TN requirements of the network slice subnet.

– The resources used, and whose management aspects are represented by a network slice subnet comprise physical and logical resources. In case of virtualization, virtualized resources may be used.