Within the upcoming fifth generation (5G) mobile networks, a lot of emerging technologies, such as Software Defined Network (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and network slicing are proposed in order to leverage more flexibility, agility and cost-efficient deployment. These new networking paradigms are shaping not only the network architectures but will also affect the market structure and business case of the stakeholders involved. Due to its capability of splitting the physical network infrastructure into several isolated logical sub-networks, network slicing opens the network resources to vertical segments aiming at providing customized and more efficient end-to-end (E2E) services. While many standardization efforts within the 3GPP body have been made regarding the system architectural and functional features for the implementation of network slicing in 5G networks, techno-economic analysis of this concept is still at a very incipient stage. This paper initiates this techno-economic work by proposing a model that allocates the network cost to the different deployed slices, which can then later be used to price the different E2E services. This allocation is made from a network infrastructure provider perspective. To feed the proposed model with the required inputs, a resource allocation algorithm together with a 5G network function (NF) dimensioning model are also proposed. Results of the different models as well as the cost saving on the core network part resulting from the use of NFV are discussed as well.

中文翻译：

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网络切片成本分配模型

在即将到来的第五代 (5G) 移动网络中，提出了许多新兴技术，例如软件定义网络 (SDN)、网络功能虚拟化 (NFV) 和网络切片，以利用更高的灵活性、敏捷性和成本效益的部署. 这些新的网络范式不仅塑造了网络架构，还将影响相关利益相关者的市场结构和商业案例。由于能够将物理网络基础设施拆分为多个隔离的逻辑子网，网络切片将网络资源开放给垂直细分市场，旨在提供定制化和更高效的端到端 (E2E) 服务。虽然 3GPP 主体内部已经针对 5G 网络中实施网络切片的系统架构和功能特性进行了许多标准化工作，但对该概念的技术经济分析仍处于非常初级的阶段。本文通过提出一个将网络成本分配到不同部署切片的模型来启动这项技术经济工作，然后可以使用这些模型为不同的 E2E 服务定价。这种分配是从网络基础设施提供商的角度进行的。为了向所提出的模型提供所需的输入，还提出了一种资源分配算法和 5G 网络函数 (NF) 维度模型。还讨论了不同模型的结果以及因使用 NFV 而导致的核心网络部分的成本节省。