Towards exploiting custom equipped drones for enhanced slice service delivery in 6G

Novel cellular networks aim to connect different device types such as vehicles, drones, Internet of Things (IoT), and more. Network slicing emerged as a key enabler to support diverse scenarios and users with varying requirements. However, limited dynamic coverage and adaptability hinder efficient support for diverse user demands in network slicing. As a result, this paper proposes a novel hybrid drone-based network slicing architecture for future 6G networks. We introduce specialized drones tailored for massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) slices. Each drone type boasts distinctive capabilities optimized for its respective slice requirements. Our framework paves the way for significantly improved coverage, throughput, response times, and overall user satisfaction compared to traditional all-purpose drone deployments. While this work lays the foundation for future integration with AI-powered optimization, it showcases the significant potential of drone specialization to unlock efficient and adaptable network slicing for future-generation networks.