Network slicing is a key feature of 5G networks as defined by 3GPP and enables to build dedicated logical networks on a shared infrastructure. The purpose of NG.116 is to assist network slice provides to map the use cases of network slice customers into generic attributes.
The Generic Network Slice Template (GST) is a set of attributes that can characterise a type of network slice/service. GST is generic and is not tied to any specific network deployment.
The NEtwork Slice Type (NEST) is a GST filled with values. The attributes and their values are assigned to fulfil a given set of requirements derived from a network slice customer use case.
A Network Slice Customer (e.g. automotive, industry 4.0 vertical) provides the requirements for the use case it would like to fulfil to the Network Slice Provider (NSP). The NSP maps the requirements into the attributes of the GST with appropriate values generating a NEST.
