15 Jul 2025
Network slicing is transforming how businesses connect to the internet. You might have heard about these innovative networking technologies. The way you implement them can substantially affect your business operations.
A single modem and SIM card can host multiple virtual networks through 5G network slicing. This customisation helps tap into the full potential of 5G. Cradlepoint bonding uses smart technology to merge multiple WAN connections into one virtual connection. This makes the network more resilient, performs better, and stays budget-friendly. These technologies can take the place of costly legacy solutions like MPLS. Your network becomes easier to manage and costs less.
5G network slicing and Cradlepoint bonding each bring unique strengths to your network architecture. Traffic steering with Ericsson NetCloud Manager recognises over 3,500 applications. It gives priority to critical traffic. Flow duplication sends similar packets through multiple links at once. This ensures your vital data stays online.
This article explains these technologies, their differences, and the best times to use each one to get the most from your network. You'll learn which solution matches your business needs best.
What Is Cradlepoint Bonding and Network Slicing?
Modern networking's technical foundation has evolved dramatically since companies introduced Cradlepoint bonding and network slicing. These technologies provide unique solutions to complex connectivity challenges through smart network management.
Understanding the simple aspects of each technology
Cradlepoint bonding combines multiple WAN connections into a single, virtual connection. This technology helps create better resiliency, performance, and economical solutions throughout your network. Smart bonding works differently from traditional connectivity methods and functions through three main modes:
- Flow duplication: Creates an unbreakable WAN connection by sending similar packets across two links at the same time. This ensures mission-critical applications stay connected even if one link fails
- Flow balancing: Distributes traffic flows across multiple links based on predefined weights to streamline costs
- Bandwidth aggregation: Combines WAN links to create a larger pipe, which increases overall available bandwidth
Network slicing splits a single physical network into multiple virtual networks, each set up for specific purposes. This technology needs 5G standalone (5G SA) networks with a dedicated 5G core to work properly. Each network slice stays isolated from others and includes:
- Custom performance characteristics (bandwidth, latency, security)
- Independent resource allocation
- End-to-end optimisation from core to edge
The 3GPP standards define several slice types including Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) for high-throughput applications, Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) for time-critical needs, and Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) for IoT deployments.
Why Network Slicing Matters for Enterprises
These technologies solve key limitations in traditional networks. Cradlepoint bonding provides application resiliency that proves valuable, especially when you have mission-critical environments, like emergency services or industrial operations, where downtime isn’t an option. For example, many Australian emergency services and transport fleets use dual-modem Cradlepoint routers with smart bonding to maintain reliable connectivity even in remote or regional areas.
Network slicing enables unprecedented customisation that traditional "one-size-fits-all" networks don't deal very well with. Companies can ensure optimal performance for various applications without building separate physical infrastructures by creating isolated virtual networks with unique performance characteristics.
How Does Each Technology Work?
Network Slicing and Cradlepoint bonding use complex mechanisms to deliver their connectivity benefits. Let's get into how these technologies actually work.
How does Network Slicing Work?
Network slicing creates multiple logical networks on shared physical infrastructure through a three-layer architecture. Physical network resources split into isolated sets at the forwarding layer, which allocates them to different slices. The control layer provides logical network instances with customised topologies. The management layer takes care of slice lifecycle from planning to optimisation.
Each slice has a unique S-NSSAI (Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information) with two components. The SST (Slice Service Type) shows service type (1 for eMBB, 2 for URLLC, 3 for mMTC, 4 for V2X), and the SD (Slice Differentiator) helps distinguish different slices within the same service type.
Each network slice is managed by a network slice agent, which helps ensure resources and service quality match the specific requirements of each slice.
How it works behind the scenes
Cradlepoint bonding combines multiple WAN connections into a single virtual connection through SD-WAN technology. This combination allows traffic manipulation based on application needs.
The bonding process relies on three key mechanisms. Flow duplication sends similar packets across multiple links to ensure mission-critical data reaches its destination. Weighted flow distribution balances traffic across links based on configured percentages. Bandwidth aggregation combines links to create enough capacity for demanding applications like video streaming.
The role of 5G standalone in enabling slicing
Limited network slicing exists in 4G and 5G NSA (Non-Standalone). However, full end-to-end network slicing needs 5G SA (Standalone) architecture with a cloud-native 5G Core using service-based architecture.
The 5G SA configuration features a new 5G network core where network functions become completely virtualised. This eliminates 4G connections in signalling management. Automated management and adaptable deployment of resources allow operators to offer truly unique connectivity with guaranteed service quality. The 5G SA architecture creates the foundations for faster, automated service orchestration. These powerful performance enablers make networks more programmable.
Cradlepoint Bonding vs 5G Network Slicing
A side-by-side look at Cradlepoint bonding and network slicing shows their basic architectural approaches solve modern connectivity challenges differently. These technologies aim to achieve the same goals but work in completely different ways that suit different use cases.
Key differences in architecture and function
Cradlepoint bonding combines multiple links into one virtual connection, while network slicing splits a physical network into several isolated virtual networks. SD-WAN technology at the edge helps bonding manage traffic through connections of all types. Network slicing works differently - it runs end-to-end from core to radio access network and needs 5G standalone architecture with its own core. Bonding works with what you already have, but slicing needs carriers to set up 5G SA networks first.
Performance and reliability comparison
Service level agreements (SLAs) in network slicing guarantee performance, much like traditional MPLS. Users get consistent throughput, predictable latency, and reliable performance that stays strong even during network congestion. Cradlepoint bonding improves reliability with Forward Error Correction (FEC). This prevents retries if connections lose packets - a great feature, especially when you have cellular links with burst loss.
Security and isolation capabilities
Network slicing stands out in security with three isolation levels: service isolation stops packets from crossing between slices, resource isolation provides dedicated network resources, and O&M isolation creates separate management planes. These layers create "hermeticity" of logical networks. Cradlepoint solutions focus on security through SIM-based authentication as a trust foundation and zero-trust network access. Their micro-tunnel architecture makes things faster without compromising security.
Scalability and deployment complexity
Setting up network slicing needs carriers to invest heavily in infrastructure, though deployment picked up speed through 2023. You can implement Cradlepoint bonding right away with existing equipment - it's much simpler to deploy. All the same, as 5G SA networks frow, SA-WAN solutions like Cradlepoint's NetCloud Exchange will work with network slicing, so applications can be directed to the right slices.
When to use bonding vs network slicing
Your choice between these advanced networking technologies depends on your operational needs and available setup. Let's get into the best scenarios that work for each solution.
Use cases for Cradlepoint bonding
Cradlepoint bonding works best in situations that need immediate resilience on existing networks. This technology is perfect for vehicles operating where connectivity isn't consistent, like city areas with changing 5G signals. Public safety vehicles get great results from dual-modem setups that allow flow duplication. This ensures critical data reaches its destination every time. Organisations can use bandwidth aggregation to increase their capacity for temporary video streaming during emergencies. For example, many Australian state emergency services and rural fire services equip their vehicles with Cradlepoint routers and satellite links to maintain connectivity in remote areas.
Use cases for 5G network slicing
Network slicing becomes valuable when specific performance guarantees are needed through service agreements. Tesltra provides network slices that work best for emergency services. These slices deliver lower latency and faster 5G speeds consistently, even during heavy network traffic. Banks benefit from slices that put security and speed first for mobile banking apps. Gaming companies can create slices that reduce latency, which helps keep gamers who would switch providers for even small improvements.
Hybrid scenarios where both are used
Some setups work well with both technologies together. Cradlepoint smoothly switches to cellular networks at the time of Starlink outages. DISH Wireless and Cisco are testing a hybrid cloud network slicing solution. This solution separates traffic by use case and figures out the right performance needs for each type. These hybrid approaches often use hard slicing for critical services and soft slicing for shared services that change on demand.
Industry-specific examples: public safety, healthcare, transportation
Police officers rely on Cradlepoint's connectivity for their mobile data terminals, surveillance cameras, and body cameras. Network slicing in healthcare makes remote surgery possible - surgeons can control surgical robots from thousands of miles away with guaranteed low latency. Hospitals use dedicated slices to connect doctors with patients in rural areas through telehealth. Transportation fleets benefit from smart bonding that keeps vehicles connected as they move between coverage zones.
Moving forward with your network strategy
Choosing the right approach for your business comes down to your connectivity needs, applications, and future plans. Whether you’re ready to boost resilience with Cradlepoint bonding, prepare for guaranteed performance with network slicing, or want to explore how both can work together, MobileCorp is here to help you go through the journey.
