Ericsson, BT and EE Introduce New 5G Standalone Features for UK Businesses

Mobile operator EE (BT) has worked with mobile network partner Ericsson to introduce two new capabilities to their core 5G Standalone (5G SA / 5G+) mobile broadband network – Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) and Network Exposure Function (NEF), which enables programmable connectivity, letting businesses and their developers request network performance on demand.

Just to recap. Early 5G deployments were Non-Standalone (NSA) and still had some reliance on slower 4G connectivity. But 5G+ networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better mobile broadband speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, increased reliability and security etc.

Building on the deployment of Ericsson’s dual‑mode 5G Core on BT’s Network Cloud, the new Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) capability is a further improvement to network slicing. This feature normally allows for multiple virtual network slices to be setup across the same physical network. Each slice is isolated from other network traffic to give dedicated performance, with the features of the slice tailored to the use case requirements (online gaming, enhanced mobile broadband, payment processing at a big event etc.).

The addition of NSSF will enhance BT’s ability to manage and orchestrate network slices by selecting the optimal network slice for each user based on factors including time, location, subscription type, current network load, and application requirements. NSSF can also dynamically adjust slice assignments in real-time based on network conditions and analytics, meaning that if one network slice becomes congested traffic can be intelligently redistributed to deliver consistent performance even under changing conditions.

The change is being complemented by the introduction of Network Exposure Function (NEF), which enables BT/EE’s customers, developers and partners to integrate selected network capabilities directly into their applications and workflows via secure, standardized APIs. BT seem to be evolving their network from a connectivity layer into a programmable platform, which can support new services and partnerships.

NEF could also provide developers access to capabilities such as quality‑of‑service controls and device authentication, allowing service differentiation through standardized APIs which reduce complexity and the need for specialized network expertise (e.g. a fleet management app could request dedicated low latency connectivity for vehicles in a specific area, or a bank could use real-time device authentication to strengthen fraud checks during mobile transactions).

Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer, BT Group, said:

“Our renewed partnership with Ericsson reinforces our ambition to evolve BT’s network into a more flexible and intelligent platform for our customers. Capabilities like NSSF and NEF are important building blocks that will allow us to respond to customer needs in new ways as the wider ecosystem matures. This is about putting the right foundations in place today so we can unlock more advanced connectivity opportunities in the future.”