On Guaranteeing End-to-End Network Slice Latency Constraints in 5G Networks

The upcoming 5th generation (5G) of mobile networks is being designed to significantly improve the performance of the current network deployments by introducing more flexibility and scalability while, at the same time, optimizing the spectrum utilization and energy efficiency of radio communications. Among such novelties, Network Slicing is emerging as the key-concept in the 5G landscape, able to provide the means for the concurrent deployment of heterogeneous services over a common physical network. In this paper, we investigate current technologies, open issues and possible solutions while addressing the most critical requirement envisioned with the advent of advanced services, i.e., the provisioning of stringent end-to-end delay guarantees as a pillar of the novel Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) service type.