How 5G Network Slicing Enables The Smart Grid

Natacha Baroni, Head of Energy Product Marketing at T-Mobile for Business

As the amount of data required to manage and monitor utility grids escalates, so does the concern over how much infrastructure upgrades will cost. But there is an alternative.

Network slicing partitions a single physical network into multiple virtual networks that utilities can customize for various applications or use cases. The benefit comes from being able to strategically allocate cellular bandwidth to meet your operating needs.

The software-defined network slicing architecture lets you establish logical networks that run on top of the physical 5G infrastructure. Within this virtualized environment, it’s possible to partition bandwidth into segments and uniquely identify applications or users to achieve required service levels. Your IT department can design each logical network to serve a specific purpose for your utility and include all network resources necessary to provide the latency, bandwidth, and reliability desired.

With 5G network slicing, your utility can scale up to handle data generated and transmitted by smart grids, improve security with isolated virtual networks, manage operations more effectively, and improve overall performance without expensive infrastructure upgrades.

Scale, security, efficiency

Network slicing benefits.

Scale up the network
As utilities embrace smart grid technology and deploy more sensors and IoT devices, the data volume generated and transmitted can become overwhelming for traditional network architectures. But 5G-powered network slicing creates virtual networks that can handle unique demands for each application.

For example, you might assign a separate virtual network to handle the data generated by real-time demand-response signals. So even as the volume of data increases, the network remains reliable and responsive.

T-Mobile’s experts will work with you from beginning to end to help you select a network solution and achieve your modernization goals.

Secure your network
In traditional network architectures, all devices and applications share the same infrastructure, making it harder to isolate potential security threats. Utilizing 5G network slicing can create virtual networks separate from each other from end to end, providing additional security against cyber-attacks. For instance, a virtual network for critical infrastructure—such as power plants and substations—can be cut off from all other networks.

Achieve cost effectiveness
With more devices and sensors capturing and transmitting more data than ever, you may find existing infrastructure can’t handle the traffic. Network slicing can reduce the need for network upgrades while enabling new value-added services that are more efficient and cost-effective. The upshot is improved performance without costly capital expenditures.

Next level tech & network

T-Mobile can help you get started.

While network slicing as a technology is not new, its integration with Standalone 5G will help support new services and capabilities by carving a dedicated slice out of the macro network with benefits in terms of throughput, latency, and reliability. And, with the flexibility enabled by Standalone 5G, end-to-end network slicing offers a reality with higher scalability and enhanced quality-of-services management.

T-Mobile has America’s largest and fastest 5G network, imagined for tomorrow but ready to give you an edge today. We can lay the foundation for a seamless transition to 5G, which calls for network slicing as a fundamental capability in the specification.

Visit T-Mobile for Business to learn more about network slicing architecture and how T-Mobile can help.

Partnership & service

T-Mobile for Business 5G connectivity solutions promote smart grid flexibility.

T-Mobile has America’s largest and fastest 5G network, imagined for tomorrow but ready to give you an edge today. At T-Mobile for Business, we’re focused on providing your business with connectivity solutions and the dedicated, exceptional service you need to help you stay ahead. T-Mobile’s experts will work with you from beginning to end to help you select a network solution and achieve your modernization goals. To learn more about how T-Mobile is fueling digital transformation for today’s energy companies, visit our energy industry page.

About the author:

Natacha Baroni is the Head of Energy Product Marketing at T-Mobile for Business, with over a decade of experience enabling customers in the energy industry improve efficiency, digital transformation, and safety. Specializing in marketing and product management, Natacha uses her experience to bring industry and customer perspectives into the development of business initiatives and go to market strategies to best meet industry needs.

Natacha holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and an MBA from Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis.

Fastest: Based on median, overall combined 5G speeds according to analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 5G download speeds for Q1 2023. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at T-Mobile.com.

5G-powered network slicing helps utilities scale up connectivity without costly infrastructure

5G-powered network slicing helps utilities scale up connectivity without costly infrastructure.

Scale, security, efficiency

Next level tech & network

Partnership & service

Related content.

Network slicing promises optimized 5G bandwidth for business-critical specialized services.

Private Networks: powering the energy industry transition.

We have the future technologies that are transforming the energy sector.

Innovate with us at 5G Innovation Lab.

Network slicing benefits.

T-Mobile’s experts will work with you from beginning to end to help you select a network solution and achieve your modernization goals.

T-Mobile can help you get started.

T-Mobile for Business 5G connectivity solutions promote smart grid flexibility.

About the author: