An adaptive network slicing for LTE radio access networks

5G mobile systems are envisioned to satisfy the service requirements from a diversity of vertical industries. Network Slicing, which is a promising technology to be integrated into 5G systems, enables multiple virtual networks to be created on top of a physical substrate. These multiple virtual networks (or network slices) are tailored according to the users' needs. The consolidation of multiple technologies, such as SDN and NFV, provides all the elasticity, programmability and modularity necessary to manage network slices. In this paper, we present a Slice Optimizer component as an extension to LTE's evolved NodeB to realize the concept of network slicing on LTE Radio Access Networks. This proposed component communicates with an SDN Controller to receive information regarding the network slices and adapts the slices according to the network state. Simulations were performed to validate the Slice Optimizer and highlight the benefits that can be achieved with our proposal, such as the improvement of user's QoS experience due to a more efficient use of network resources.