Yes, but on a limited scale so far. Telecom operators are beginning to commercialize network slicing by offering customers services with prioritized access to network resources, enhanced bandwidth, and defined quality-of-service parameters. T-Mobile and Verizon in the United States are among the operators that have already brought such services to market. While the revenue generated remains difficult to quantify, network slicing is gradually moving beyond its technological promise to become a marketable service.
According to the June 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report, the number of commercial offerings based on network slicing increased from 65 to 84 in just six months. An analysis covering more than 300 telecommunications service providers across 134 markets identified 151 instances of network slicing deployment or testing, including commercial offerings and pilot projects.
What Is Network Slicing, and Why Does It Require 5G SA?
Network slicing enables operators to create multiple logically isolated network segments within a single physical infrastructure. Each slice can be configured with specific parameters for bandwidth, latency, traffic prioritization, and reliability.
The same infrastructure can therefore serve regular mobile subscribers, live video broadcasts from sporting events, and emergency services communications, providing different levels of service quality for each group.
Fully realizing the potential of network slicing requires a 5G Standalone (SA) architecture with a dedicated 5G Core. Unlike 5G Non-Standalone (NSA), which relies on an LTE core, 5G SA enables advanced management of network slices and their underlying resources.
According to Ericsson, more than 90 operators worldwide had launched commercial 5G SA networks by June 2026, while approximately 390 operators were offering commercial 5G services overall.
From Pilots to Commercial Offerings
One example is T-Mobile in the United States, which introduced T-Priority in 2024, a service designed for first responders. The solution uses a dedicated 5G SA network slice to provide priority access to network resources during periods of high congestion.
According to T-Mobile, T-Priority can allocate up to five times more network resources than those available to typical users. In 2025, the service was used by public safety agencies during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
In December 2025, Verizon introduced its 5G Network Slice – Enhanced Internet service for business customers. The offering provides enhanced uplink performance, SLA-backed service quality, and unlimited data usage.
These examples illustrate two approaches to commercialization: priority connectivity for specific user groups and business services with predictable network performance.
Network Slicing or Private 5G?
For businesses, an important question is whether a slice of a public mobile network can replace a dedicated private 5G network.
A private network can provide greater control over infrastructure and its configuration, but deployment often requires additional investment. Network slicing, by contrast, allows businesses to use an operator's existing infrastructure, reducing the need to build a separate network.
The two approaches can also complement each other. The choice depends on requirements for security, mobility, coverage, and control over network resources.
From Technology to Business Model
The growing number of commercial offerings does not necessarily mean that network slicing has become a significant source of revenue for operators. One of the main challenges remains developing a business model in which customers are willing to pay a premium for defined levels of service quality and availability.
Operators need to establish pricing models, define SLA parameters, and implement mechanisms for automatically provisioning and monitoring network slices. Efficient resource allocation is also essential to ensure that differentiated services do not compromise the experience of other network users.
The Role of OSS/BSS Systems
Scaling the commercialization of network slicing requires close integration between network management systems and business processes.
OSS/BSS systems support service catalog management, physical and virtual resource inventory, service activation, quality monitoring, and billing. They also help align the service parameters offered to customers with the actual capabilities of the underlying infrastructure.
Suntech develops OSS/BSS solutions within its SunVizion platform, including Network Inventory, Service Fulfilment, and Billing & CRM. These systems support resource management, service activation, and telecommunications billing processes, providing essential components of the operational environment needed to commercialize advanced 5G services.
Market Outlook
Network slicing is moving beyond experimentation towards broader commercialization. However, its actual contribution to operators' revenues remains difficult to quantify.
Further growth will depend on the availability of 5G Standalone, process automation, and customer demand for services with guaranteed performance parameters. For operators, the challenge is no longer simply to expand network infrastructure, but to turn its technical capabilities into standardized, repeatable, and scalable services.
