A framework for capability provisioning in B5G
Vilho Räisänen
Nokia Bell Labs
Espoo, Finland
first.last@nokia-bell-labs.com
Abstract—We analyze drivers for evolution of 5G
networks towards 6G and propose a high-level capability
provisioning framework which covers both evolutionary
aspects as well as service and enabler provisioning related
aspects of 6G. The framework represents definition of a scope
for provisioning capabilities and encompasses both Digital
Service Provider (DSP) and dedicated networks such as
private networks and neutral hosts. A key ingredient is
introduction of capabilities as a generalization of enablers
provided by current networks and traded on a marketplace.
We outline implications of this approach for DSP networks.
Keywords—B5G, orchestration, services, monetization,
edge clouds, mobile edge computing.
I. INTRODUCTION
Mobile networks have evolved into a basis for networked
society, providing ubiquitous and affordable connectivity
for a large part of humanity. The 4G network technology
reduced the cost per bit while increasing the throughput for
individual users, catering for the innovation hotbed that is
mobile services.
Currently, 5G Communication Service Provider (CSP)
networks are being taken into use which provide
capabilities beyond 4G. The three traffic types of 5G –
xMBB, cMTC, and mMTC have been designed to support
future service needs of individual users as well as
automated endpoints. Network slices provide a
mechanism for provisioning processing and connectivity
jointly; relatively statically at first but evolving into
dynamic slicing with the introduction of stand-alone (SA)
5G networks.
Edge clouds are an integral part of the 5G architecture and
will provide economies of scale for hosting capabilities of
the cloudified network infrastructure with the evolution to
Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN). Edge clouds can
also be used for hosting end user applications as part of
network slices as a realization of the Multi-access Edge
Computing (MEC) paradigm [1]. As we shall see later, this
capability of 5G networks caters for an important trend.
A parallel evolution to increasing effectiveness, special-
purpose private networks are being increasingly deployed
to enterprise users such as harbors, airports, and mines,
just to name a few examples. Currently, 4G networks are
typically used for private networks, but in the future 5G
will also bring benefits for the users of private networks.
With the low-latency and high-availability connectivity of
5G, fixed connectivity within enterprises will be replaced
with 5G. Private networks need to be more automated than
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CSP counterparts especially in the area of management
and orchestration.
Network architecture, service models, and capacity of 5G
networks jointly contribute to enabling of new types of
services. Extrapolating towards B5G, the near-term
services are expected to include edge cloud -based
acceleration of multi-player games, augmented reality and
virtual reality (AR/VR). In the mid-term, edge clouds
enable new business models based on geographical
proximity. On a longer run, B5G networks can also host
digital twins of the real world, among other shared
enablers.
In additional to technological trends, there are drivers
related to business dynamics of CSPs. Given the fast pace
of innovation, service provisioning needs to be agile to
cater for dynamic strategy differentiation in the
marketplace. Efficient infrastructure utilization enabled by
powerful automation solution supports this goal. We shall
later on discuss technological implementation aspects.
Telecommunications industry needs a common
framework for describing 5G evolution towards 6G. The
framework needs to generalize the capabilities of 5G
networks in such a way that they cater for 6G targets which
will be discussed below. In this article, we describe one
such a framework for service and enabler provisioning
related aspects. B5G radio access technology (RAT)
specific topics have been addressed e.g. in [2].
Below, we shall review 5G evolution drivers, 6G visions,
and requirements for B5G system. We proceed to describe
a high-level framework for service provisioning in B5G
and conclude with a summary.
II. 5G EVOLUTION DRIVERS
There is limited amount of operational experience
available from live 5G networks at the moment. We can
however outline a view of 5G networks at a time when
working items currently in standardization and testing are
fully realized. Shortly put, 5G evolution is motivated by
making the most out of built infrastructure. In the case of
5G, this translates efficient use of network resources in a
multi-vendor environment for dynamically varying
demand for network slices.
Multi-vendor aspect of service provision is based on
European Telecommunication Standardization Institute
(ETSI) Zero-Touch Service management (ZSM), which
describes a functional end-to-end reference architecture
composed of end-to-end service orchestration layer and
domain orchestrators [3]. Domain orchestration and
enabling techniques like effective Service Function
Chaining are important for the effectiveness of dynamic
network slicing [4] [5]. The ZSM architecture addresses
the increase in complexity for service provisioning by
defining an end-to-end architecture for automated service
orchestration together with separation of concerns towards
management domains. The ZSM architecture is illustrated
in Figure 1. For 6G era, the requirements for scalability
and agility are expected to be higher, highlighting the
importance of automation [6].
Figure 1: ETSI Zero-Touch Service Management (ZSM)
architecture [3].
There is a general trend of towards edge computing, driven
by multiple factors [7]. Security is provided by locality of
data processing, whereas short latencies and high
throughput are a further benefit. Many services benefit
from Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployed at the edge of
the network, potentially avoiding a need to transfer large
volumes of data to a public cloud. A prime example of this
is on-line 4K video processing for motion detection.
Similar considerations also apply to data generated by
mobile networks [8]. The combination of AI and edge
computing has been called edge AI [9], and is supported
by ML accelerators in edge computing platforms. A recent
development is emergence of proposed edge cloud
developer environments for mobile networks [10] [11].
AI/ML is planned to be gradually be introduced
throughout 5G networks, starting with 3GPP Release 16
(R16). The number of potential use cases for ML is large
[12], spanning a spectrum from radio physical layer to
network and service management. A carefully designed
combination of focused ML algorithms provides a basis
for higher cost efficiency of networks [8]. ML can also be
used extrinsically to telecom systems, assisting human or
automated decision making, as described in ETSI
Experiential Networked Information (ENI) concept [13].
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An example of using ML specifically related to services is
dynamic pricing of network slices [14]. AI/ML is also
expected to play a key role in automation of service
provision, a crucial component for the success of private
and neutral host networks of the future.
III. 6G VISIONS
A recent white paper [15] outlines a vision for 6G
networks. The grand theme is to move from engineering
of 5G towards humanity in 6G. A number of drivers for
this evolution are listed, including urbanization, the need
for productivity increase, climate change, and
optimization of public sector efficiency.
Design for the next generation provides an opportunity to
step back and view new capabilities of the current 5G
networks from a broader perspective. Many of the 5G
features have been designed for enhancing throughput and
efficiency in densely populated areas. While urbanization
continues to be important, also the needs of rural/remote
areas need to be observed in 6G. In general, digital
inclusion is stated to be important for the next generation
of technology. Increasing dependence on ICT of societies
introduces vulnerabilities, which is why security and
privacy are of paramount importance for the world beyond
5G.
From technological viewpoint, intertwining of physical
and digital worlds as well as biological systems is
described as a goal for 6G. The current use of digital twins
for aircraft engines [16] is only a starting point for this
evolution. Combined with future networking
infrastructure, models for biological and physical worlds
can be viewed as capabilities of the 6G network. Energy
efficiency will grow in importance, and trustworthiness
and resilience of communications will be a basic
requirement in the future.
Relating to business models, some relevant trends have
been identified. Business models based on data sharing are
expected to be supported corresponding marketplaces.
Network sharing is expected to be important, and local
operators to cater for specific needs of communities. In
general, the roles of business stakeholders are expected to
change in the course of B5G evolution.
IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR B5G FRAMEWORK
We can now crystallize requirements extracted from the
preceding viewpoints.
Baseline for the evolutionary aspect of the framework is
the service model of 5G networks based on orchestration
of network slices, and what is described below are
leveraging R15 5G standards and ETSI ZSM. We shall not
discuss non-functional requirements like security and
privacy here.
The framework needs to cater for evolution of 5G towards
6G. The evolutionary aspects of 5G networks relevant to
6G such as AI/ML and dynamic slicing are thus part of the
framework. Similarly, the framework needs to
accommodate different types of networks, including
DSPs, private networks, and dedicated public networks
(neutral hosts). Below, we focus on the stakeholder view
and novel technological aspects of 6G.
As to 6G, the basic business requirements is
accommodating a variety of provider type stakeholders
which expose capabilities to the marketplace: data,
connectivity, and enablers. Consumer type stakeholders
purchase capabilities and use them in their own service
offering. A stakeholder which would be considered a
provider today may also be a consumer of the capabilities
in the future. It is expected that there will be stakeholders
which do not have a counterpart in the present business
ecosystem. Overall, the stakeholders can be modelled as
interacting with the marketplace through a a collection of
provider and consumer roles (Figure 2). In the general
case, the value offering of stakeholders is composed by
combining internal capabilities with external ones.
Figure 2: Stakeholder value offering is composed from roles
towards marketplace.
The role of a Digital Service Provider is an evolution of
present-day CSPs. At the evolutionary end, network slice
provision is dynamic, on-demand, and geographically
localized. The introduction of edge clouds into network
infrastructure allows DSPs to assume new roles in ICT
value chain and will create new kinds of value networks
leveraging the advantages of edge computing referred to
earlier.
There are aspects in 6G vision which go beyond the
straightforward 5G evolution. In addition to powerful
technological basis of fast radio interfaces and edge
processing capacity, DSPs are stakeholders which have
access to a wide spectrum of types of information which
can be made available for services. Assisted GPS (A-GPS)
is a simple example of exposing network capabilities. In
5G, the Network Exposure Function (NEF) allows for
developing applications on top of network [17]. In 6G time
scale, it is expected that more advanced capabilities can be
made available, for example, relating to interconnections
between digital, physical, and biological worlds. A simple
example of a service relating to the two first domains is
Augmented Reality (AR) overlay providing location-
based information.
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The emergence of more complex capabilities in 6G
network together with stricter service quality requirements
means that services are increasingly offered at the edge of
the network. Due to lower aggregation level of services,
resource management and optimization are more
demanding at the edge of the network than on large
processing platforms.
Efficient automated monetization of network capacity not
used by the customers of a DSP requires an ability to
accurately predict demand for capabilities. Similarly,
predictive orchestration is important for supporting both
internal and external customers.
V. HIGH-LEVEL FRAMEWORK
The high-level framework is described in Figure 3. The
central part of the framework is capability marketplace,
where capabilities are bought and sold by parties which we
call Digital Service Stakeholders (DSDs). A DSD can be a
DSP, a 3rd party provider of capabilities, or a stakeholder
which needs capabilities. For example, a private network
does not necessarily provide capabilities in the
marketplace but may purchase them instead. A “provider”
type DSD leverages service orchestration to make its
capabilities available to the marketplace.
Figure 3: High-level framework for B5G evolution. The left side
of the picture illustrates internal capabilities of a DSP, whereas
the right slide of the picture illustrates a generic provider of
capabilities.
A capability can be simple connectivity in a specified
geographic location, a combination of connectivity and
customer-defined processing (network slice), or an
enabler. A capability has technical attributes related to
performance, as well as security and privacy related ones.
For a DSP, marketplace provides a means to create
revenue from infrastructure capacity not allocated to own
customers. A DSP exposes a capability to marketplace by
means of orchestration of a service supporting the
capability in question. Highly automated service and
domain orchestration as an evolution of ETSI ZSM
architecture is an enabler for this. A capability could be an
enabler for a class of services such as robotics, leveraging
the strengths of a DSP such as location, edge computing
resources or sensing. In effect the framework provides a
means for DSP to monetize individual capabilities in
addition to complete E2E network slices.

The provision of the service supporting a capability may
be triggered by request from marketplace or be initiated
within a DSP. Analogously to ETSI ZSM, service
orchestration triggers orchestrations in resource domains,
e.g. edge clouds. Each domain is also associated with
domain management which is used for operating the
domain infrastructure, e.g. edge cloud platform as well as
configuring the resources employed by domain
orchestration. Service instances are also associated with
assurance processes.
In the case of a private network, the orchestration
machinery is typically used primarily internally to the
stakeholder rather than for exposing capabilities
externally. A private network may be a consumer of
capabilities provided by other stakeholders. For example,
a multi-site industrial company may run connectivity for
the company sites but may use a DSP for providing
connectivity between the sites.
A generic DSD may implement its capabilities with a
variety of platforms. A DSP hosted cloud service provides
advantages for generic DSDs in the form of a standards-
based high-availability execution platform with excellent
6G connectivity as an integral part.
Further work is needed for defining procedures for market
interactions of DSDs as well as detailed analysis of use
cases. For example, let us assume that DSD A uses
capabilities provided by DSDs B and C. Is it enough from
performance viewpoint that each related DSD executes its
own service orchestration, or should cross-orchestration of
resources be allowed for effectiveness? Similarly, optimal
handling of service assurance processes across DSD
boundaries requires further analysis.
VI. SUMMARY
We have reviewed the state of the art in 5G and cloud
computing and identified relevant trends. 5G evolution
drivers have been discussed, followed by an account of 6G
visionary aspects. We proceeded to list a set of
requirements for a B5G framework, covering both 5G
evolution and current understanding of essential features of
6G service provisioning. After that, a high-level framework
was proposed for structuring future analysis of 6G
requirements.
We view this article as a “vision position paper” type
contribution to early phase of an industry-wide process
which eventually leads to 6G standards. Other
contributions, position papers and discussions are needed
to make the next generation a reality, and we are looking
forward to participating to this process.
VII. REFERENCES
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