Vertical Network Slicing and its Impact on 5G Data Traffic and Performance

5G technology marks the beginning of a new era for wireless communication networks, with the capability to support a diverse range of applications and services with varying requirements. Vertical network slicing technology is at the center of this revolution, a vital innovation that promises to maximize the efficiency of network resource allocation. In this paper, we present a 5G testbed network implemented using Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP)-based Software Defined Radio (SDR). The technical challenges associated with implementing vertical network slices dedicated to specific use cases such as enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) are described. We demonstrate how vertical network slicing can be implemented in a USRP-based testbed. Our results show a functional testbed that can be used for vertical network slicing research in a controlled environment setting. Additionally, we investigate the possibility of vertical network slices being dynamically changed to match growing service requirements, which is an important aspect of the long-term expansion of 5G infrastructure.