BT, Ericsson, and Qualcomm recently completed a successful trial demonstrating 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing capabilities. The live test took place at Adastral Park, BT Group’s research and innovation campus, and used Ericsson’s 5G Core and Radio Access Network technology together with devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Mobile Platform.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT, said the demonstration marks an important step toward the company’s own 5G SA launch. He emphasized that network slicing will enable BT to deliver differentiated Quality of Service and guarantee performance for distinct customer segments, unlocking new services and experiences in the 5G SA era.
The trial created dedicated slices for gaming, enterprise, and Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) use cases. By dynamically partitioning network resources, slicing ensured consistent performance for bandwidth-intensive and latency-sensitive activities—such as mobile cloud gaming and high-definition video conferencing—even under peak load conditions.
Mobile gaming continues to grow rapidly, and EE—BT’s consumer brand and the UK’s largest network—has recorded nearly double the gaming traffic since early 2023, now exceeding two petabytes per month. The trial highlighted the importance of low latency, minimal jitter, and uninterrupted throughput for immersive gameplay, showing how slicing can sustain those requirements and support future growth.
Partners demonstrated a cloud gaming session using Nvidia’s GeForce Now platform and a Samsung S23 Ultra. Throughput remained consistently above the recommended 25 Mbps for 1080p streaming, even while background traffic was present. Ericsson’s network slicing implementation and Radio Resource Partitioning on EE’s network delivered a smooth Fortnite session, illustrating the benefits of optimized network configuration for gaming.
The trial also validated slicing for enterprise customers. Enterprise and eMBB slices were configured via URSP rules to support stable 4K video streaming and enterprise communications on the Samsung S23 Ultra. Low jitter and steady throughput are critical for business video calls and platforms such as YouTube, and Ericsson’s 5G RAN Slicing feature helped maintain the required performance levels for these applications.
Katherine Ainley, CEO of Ericsson UK & Ireland, said 5G Standalone combined with network slicing enables operators like EE to offer tailored connectivity profiles that meet diverse needs for speed, latency, and reliability. She noted that these capabilities will support premium consumer and enterprise services and help drive innovation and market growth across multiple UK industries.
(Image Credit: BT Group)
Related coverage: SK Telecom and Intel recently announced work on low-latency 6G Core technology, illustrating the broader industry push toward next-generation core network capabilities.
Events and industry learning: For organizations planning digital transformation initiatives, events such as Digital Transformation Week—co-located with IoT Tech Expo and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo—offer practical insights and networking opportunities. TechForge also lists upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars for teams looking to explore emerging trends and solutions.