5G and Beyond: AI-Optimised Network Slicing for Future Wireless Networks

Abstract

Implementation of 5G network is a mammoth event in the history of wireless communication. Nonetheless, with the industry, smart cities, IoT ecosystems expanding it can no longer be considered possible to run the network in a traditional way which is naturally fixed. Network slicing is a critical technology that may empower operators to outsource several virtual as well as separate logical networks utilizing shared infrastructure. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) goes a notch higher to dynamically, proactively, and resource-effectively optimize slices to address the needs of various service-level services including ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC). In the following next-generation 5G network, AI-based network slicing is reviewed in this paper. It discusses the potential benefits of using machine learning, deep reinforcement learning, and federated learning to automate slice lifecycle management, predict traffic patterns, and allocate resources in a more efficient way. Recent reports and case studies have shown that optimization of AI-based systems can lower the latency, improve the throughput, and also decrease the energy consumption compared to the rule-based systems. Other challenges witnessed during the research are data privacy, understanding of AI designs and complexity when integrating with the old system. In addition, it focuses on standardization and regulatory plans required to implement the scaling implementation. It will be crucial in 6G networks in future to achieve intelligent slicing with diverse environments, satellite-ground relationship and immersive communications like AR/VR, holographic communications and robotics. AI-optimized network slicing will be developed to form the basis of next-generation wireless networks, balancing network virtualization and AI intelligence to enable network slices with resilience, scalability, and flexibility to accommodate next-generation digital ecosystems.