Wedoany.com Report on Mar 3rd, BT recently announced the successful deployment of a dual-mode 5G core network in collaboration with Ericsson on its Network Cloud, and the official launch of the dynamic Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) and Network Exposure Function (NEF). This initiative aims to provide UK businesses with more flexible and intelligent network solutions, accelerating 5G innovation and application development.
Dynamic Slicing: Allocating Resources On-Demand to Ensure Mission-Critical Performance
The NSSF function can dynamically select the optimal network slice for each user based on criteria such as time, location, network load, and application requirements. This means that during network congestion, traffic can be reallocated to ensure stable performance for critical services. For example, a hospital could run connected ambulances, patient monitoring systems, and staff devices on different slices, prioritizing life-critical tasks and ensuring network efficiency even during peak hours.
Network Openness: APIs Empower Developers to Achieve Service Differentiation
The NEF, through standardized APIs, allows developers and enterprises to directly integrate network capabilities into their applications. BT has already launched GSMA Open Gateway API tools for KYC (Know Your Customer) authentication and SIM swap alerts, demonstrating the practical value of network programmability. The NEF provides functionalities such as quality-of-service control and device authentication, helping to achieve service differentiation. In the logistics sector, fleet management applications can request low-latency connections in real-time; the financial industry can leverage real-time device authentication to enhance the security of mobile transactions.
Executive Statement: Laying the Foundation for an Intelligent Platform and Programmable Network
Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group, stated: "Our collaboration with Ericsson strengthens our ambition to evolve the network into a more intelligent platform. NSSF and NEF are key building blocks, enabling us to respond to customer needs in new ways and unlock more advanced connectivity opportunities for the future."
Luca Orsini, Head of Ericsson in the Nordics, added: "Deepening the 5G core network collaboration lays the foundation for building a programmable network that meets the needs of UK businesses and developers. The differentiated services enabled by network APIs represent a rapidly growing market opportunity. BT can leverage this demand by opening network capabilities, bringing tangible value to the digital economy."
