SK Telecom said Wednesday it successfully developed and demonstrated joint network slicing with its German and Swedish partners, a new means of connectivity based on 5G roaming that creates multiple virtual networks from a single physical network.

Deutsche Telecom and Ericsson were the partners in the trial test of "federated network slicing," conducted in Bonn, Germany, and Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday, the company said. The trial proved successful in connecting different parts of the world to enable a repair worker to carry out maintenance on an aircraft by communicating via augmented reality with colleagues at other locations.

With Federated network slicing and through multiple virtual networks, telecom operators can offer overall functionality for customers with individual needs. This would get rid of the cost from having to develop a network for different usage such as connected car or Internet of Things. With the technology, an operator can provide global network service so that a customer no longer needs separate agreements with different operators in other countries.