Evaluating overall network resource congestion before scaling a network slice

A method of operating a first network node, in a communication network to respond to congestion in a resource of a network slice of the communication network, the method comprising:

• determining that the resource of the network slice is congested;
• responsive to determining that the resource of the network slice is congested, transmitting a first message to a second network node of the communication network, the first message indicating a request for approval to scale the resource of the network slice;
• and
• receiving a second message from the second network node, the second message indicating whether to scale the resource of the network slice in response to the first message.

A first network node operatable in in a communication network, to evaluate whether to scale a first resource of a network slice of the communication network comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving, from a second network node of the communication network, a first message indicating a request for approval to scale the first resource of the network slice;
• responsive to receiving the first message, determining whether to scale the first resource of the network slice based on information regarding a second resource, wherein the first and second resources are of different types;
• and
• transmitting, to the second network node, a second message indicating whether to scale the first resource of the network slice based on determining whether to scale the first resource of the network slice.