Network Slicing Performance Analysis on an Open-Source-Based 5G Nomadic Node

Abstract

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a network slicing implementation in a simulated 5G Standalone (SA) mobile network deployed as a nomadic edge node, where “nomadic” refers to the physical portability and ease of redeployment of a self-contained, containerized 5G testbed suitable for university teaching and experimentation. The platform integrates Open5GS, UERANSIM, Kamailio, and Prometheus/Grafana to emulate a sliced 5G core and access network supporting differentiated service requirements typical of heterogeneous traffic classes and latency-sensitive applications. Slice provisioning is fully configurable, and Docker-based resource constraints are applied to enforce Quality of Service (QoS) differentiation. Performance was assessed through bandwidth and traffic-quality measurements, demonstrating measurable improvements in packet loss and jitter for high-priority slices, with corresponding degradation for lower-priority slices. Although the laboratory environment limits replication of distributed real-world deployments, the results confirm the effectiveness of network slicing for traffic isolation and service prioritization in 5G SA systems. These findings highlight the practical boundaries of container-based slicing enforcement in a single-host nomadic 5G SA node, and inform the design of future multi-host deployments.