Definition and Application of the Scalability Index: Example of 5G Network Slicing

Scalability is of key interest for communication networks and systems, and frequently mentioned in research. However, a framework for benchmarking the scalability of two or more systems is missing. Therefore, we establish a Scalability Index (SI) to measure one system's scalability in comparison to another system, or a hypothetical one, such as a linear or ideal system. In this article, we illustrate and assess the SI within the context of a 5G core network slicing use case. We provide practical insights on utilizing the SI, and offer recommendations and guidelines for its application.