Jio Deploys Network Slicing Ahead of Final Regulations

Reliance Jio has deployed network slicing technology in India while the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is still in the process of finalizing regulations for the technology. This implementation occurred during high-demand events where network capacity and reliability were critical.

The company reported using a "mission critical slice" for the Maharashtra Police during a religious gathering in Pandharpur, which saw over 3.5 million people gather on a single day. Jio also utilized network slicing for a similar event in Tirupati, attended by approximately 500,000 people. According to Jio, the network slicing, as part of an intelligent Radio Access Network (RAN), "worked beautifully" under these demanding conditions.

Network slicing allows mobile operators to partition their physical network infrastructure into multiple virtual networks. Each virtual network can be tailored to specific service requirements, such as guaranteed bandwidth or low latency, making it suitable for critical applications and dense user environments. Jio highlighted the need for evolving RAN technology to adapt quickly to India's high population density and large gatherings.

TRAI has released consultation papers and held discussions regarding a quality-of-service framework for 5G, which may include provisions for network slicing. Industry stakeholders like Jio and GSMA have advocated for allowing service-based network slicing. However, concerns have been raised by groups such as MediaNama and the Broadband India Forum (BIF) regarding potential impacts on net neutrality if network slicing leads to discriminatory service levels for different applications.