Service Enabler Layer for 5G Verticals

Abstract

With the emerging commercial deployments of 5G Network, the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) will be able to offer more significant network capabilities such as efficient ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC), higher bandwidth for data transfer with enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), and massive capacity to connect devices with massive Internet of Things (mIoT). MNOs are making huge investments to setup 5G Networks with an anticipation of growth in their revenues. However, MNOs may not see the return of investment through end user consumer base alone and may need additional revenue streams. Thus, 5G system has been designed to have advanced built-in features such as network slicing and edge computing, considering requirements from enterprise segments or vertical industries including healthcare, automotive, smart factories, mission critical communications, etc. To enable more rapid deployment of vertical services, the 5G deployments require fostering innovation at the application layer. With the growing needs of verticals industries, the operators are now focusing on enabling standards for vertical applications in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a global standards forum for 5G. In this paper, the authors explain the Service Enabler Architecture Layer (SEAL) standard for 5G verticals and the services offered by the enabler layer. The paper also elaborates how the operators can leverage the SEAL to quickly develop and deploy vertical applications over the 5G Network.