GMR’s private 5G network pioneers end-to-end network slicing for industrial applications

GMR, in collaboration with Niral Networks, has deployed a sophisticated private 5G network that leverages advanced network slicing and edge processing to support diverse industrial use cases with guaranteed QoS and ultra-low latency.

In the evolving landscape of industrial connectivity, the deployment of private 5G networks tailored to diverse use cases such as surveillance drones, mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) communications, connected workers, and IoT sensors, requires meticulous management of Quality of Service (QoS) and network slicing. At GMR, in collaboration with Niral Networks, a nuanced approach was adopted to meet these multifaceted requirements, blending advanced slicing strategies with on-premise edge processing to deliver robust and real-time industrial applications.

The phased introduction of use cases allowed careful calibration of network resources. Initial capabilities in voice and video communication were expanded to include push-to-talk services, integrating voice and video streams with broadcast communication frameworks. This necessitated a dedicated network slice with guaranteed bitrate (GBR) to ensure consistent QoS, vital for mission-critical communications. Similarly, surveillance cameras and drones, reliant on high-volume uplink video data, were assigned an uplink-optimised slice to sustain continuous, stable real-time video transmission. In contrast, IoT sensors and drone control signals, requiring minimal bandwidth, utilised standard low-data-rate slices to efficiently allocate resources without over-provisioning.

This end-to-end slicing encompassed the radio access network, core network, and backhaul, ensuring dedicated resource pathways for each industrial traffic class. The NiralOS 5G platform’s native support for dynamic QoS policies, isolation, and prioritization enabled tailored tuning of latency, throughput, and reliability parameters to meet stringent operational needs. Crucially, all applications ran on-premise within a private 5G cloud, eliminating dependence on external data centres and delivering sub-10ms latency essential for mission-critical performance in energy management, safety analytics, and industrial automation.

This deployment aligns with broader trends in private 5G solutions that emphasise scalability, zero-trust security, and operational efficiency. Platforms like BubbleRAN highlight the significance of cloud-native Open RAN architectures, zero-touch operations, and green technology integration across sectors from military to logistics, underlining the universality of QoS guarantees and network slicing for diverse industrial demands.

Ericsson’s research further underscores the critical role of network slicing programmability in 5G, enabling virtualized, dedicated networks for mission-critical applications across industries. The dynamic provisioning capabilities facilitated by software orchestration empower operators to meet specific QoS profiles necessary for varied use cases, reflecting the precision evidenced in GMR’s deployment.

Academic studies advance these ideas by investigating the optimization frameworks for slice-aware resource allocation and service orchestration in smart factories and enterprise environments. Techniques such as convex optimization for power and sub-channel distribution and middleware solutions like 5GLoR illustrate ongoing innovation in preserving QoS across heterogeneous network segments, reinforcing the viability of 5G as a backbone for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems.

Moreover, concepts like the Network Slice-as-a-Service Platform (NASP) demonstrate the growing sophistication in translating business-level slice requirements into orchestrated, multi-domain 5G deployments, encompassing both 3GPP and non-3GPP infrastructures. This evolution promises enhanced flexibility and efficiency, accommodating scenarios including massive Machine-Type Communications and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications, which are foundational to industrial automation slices.

Industry insights into the implementation of Industrial Automation Slices reveal the necessity of integrating dedicated RAN and core resources with edge computing and dynamic spectrum allocation. These configurations support real-time control of robotic systems, boosting automation throughput and reliability , objectives mirrored in GMR’s tailored slicing and edge compute strategy.

In summary, GMR’s private 5G network, developed with Niral Networks, illustrates the sophisticated orchestration of network slicing, QoS assurance, and edge computing to meet the diverse and demanding needs of industrial environments. By leveraging end-to-end slice configuration, uplink-heavy design for video workloads, guaranteed bitrates for mission-critical voice, and low-bandwidth channels for IoT, combined with on-premise processing, the deployment achieves the reliability, security, and low latency essential for modern energy and industrial facilities. This approach resonates with ongoing global advancements in private 5G, reinforcing the technology’s pivotal role in the future of industrial connectivity.

📌 Reference Map:

• ^[1] (TeckNexus) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
• ^[2] (BubbleRAN) – Paragraph 5
• ^[3] (Ericsson) – Paragraph 6
• ^[4] (arXiv: 5G-LAN and 5GLoR) – Paragraph 7
• ^[5] (arXiv: Slice-aware RRM) – Paragraph 7
• ^[6] (arXiv: NASP) – Paragraph 8
• ^[7] (LinkedIn Industry Analysis) – Paragraph 9

Source: Fuse Wire