Vodafone claims to have successfully completed a simultaneous trial of multiple 5G Standalone (5G SA) network slices.

The operator said it was able to demonstrate the use of multiple 5G SA network slices for different use cases at a live event.

Vodafone created two network slices during the Wales vs. Ireland Men’s Guinness Six Nations match at the weekend at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The carrier worked with network vendor Ericsson to create the two network slices.

According to Vodafone, network slicing allowed former Wales and Cardiff Rugby player Ellis Jenkins to host a live watch-along of the match.

A second slice was used to support in-house photography at the stadium, to ensure the uploading of images was not impacted by slower Internet speeds.

A network slice allows telecom operators to create separate and isolated networks for different use cases, while the slice can be configured differently.

It's a virtual network that operates on top of a single physical network and has been touted as one of 5G SA's key use cases.

Vodafone notes that arenas, where tens of thousands are in attendance, offer the ideal opportunity for network slicing as the slices can support security and emergency services, plus the likes of food and drink vendors taking payments.

“Network slicing allows us to work with our customers and adapt the network to suit their needs. This is a huge advantage of 5G Standalone – customers can define their own experience with a network which is built for them," said Nick Gliddon, business director, Vodafone UK.

"As a result, businesses can expect to improve the efficiency of operations, help drive productivity gains, and introduce new services to their customers that would not be possible otherwise."

Vodafone was the first UK mobile operator to launch its 5G Standalone network, doing so in June 2023.