Efficient flexibility and higher system scalability call for enhanced network performance, better energy consumption, lower infrastructure cost, and effective resource utilization. To accomplish this, an architectural optimization and reconstruction of existing cellular network is required. Network slicing is considered to be one of the key enablers and an architectural answer of communication system of 2020 and beyond. Traditional mobile operators provide all types of services to various kinds of customers through a single network, however, with the deployment of network slicing operators are now able to divide entire network into different slices each with its own configuration and specific Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. In a slice-based network, each slice will be considered as a separate logical network. In this way, the infrastructure utilization and resource allocation will be much more energy and cost efficient in comparison to traditional network. In this paper, we provided a comprehensive discussion on concept and system architecture of network slicing with particular focus on its business aspect and profit modeling. We throughly discussed two different dimensions of profit modeling, so called Own-Slice Implementation and Resource Leasing for Outsourced Slices. We further addressed open research directions and existing challenges with the purpose of motivating new advances and adding realistic solutions to this emerging technology.

翻译：高效的灵活性与更高的系统可扩展性要求增强网络性能、改善能耗、降低基础设施成本并提高资源利用率。为实现这一目标，需要对现有蜂窝网络进行架构优化与重构。网络切片被认为是实现2020年及未来通信系统的关键赋能技术及架构解决方案。传统移动运营商通过单一网络为各类客户提供所有服务，而随着网络切片的部署，运营商能够将整个网络划分为多个切片，每个切片具有独立配置及特定的服务质量要求。在基于切片的网络中，每个切片将被视为独立的逻辑网络。相较于传统网络，这种架构能显著提升基础设施利用率与资源分配的能源效率及成本效益。本文系统论述了网络切片的概念与系统架构，重点聚焦其商业维度与利润建模。我们深入探讨了利润建模的两个不同维度：自有切片实施与外包切片的资源租赁。进一步指出了开放研究方向与现存挑战，旨在推动这一新兴技术的创新发展并提供切实可行的解决方案。