Jun 10, 2021
Successful MEC(Multiple Access Edge Computing) Implementation - Challenges and Mitigation
Jun 10, 2021
Successful MEC(Multiple Access Edge Computing) Implementation - Challenges and Mitigation
Mobile data consumption is growing exponentially with the rapid growth of smartphones/tablets and bandwidth-hungry applications (Video/Music Streaming, Rich Media Communication and personal Cloud services, etc.) that they run. Analysts predict that Wireless Data Traffic will increase by 300% in 2017, compared with what it was in 2012.
Co-authored by: Wishrant Mukesh Tuli
A deluge of unstructured data presents a complex challenge for enterprises to uncover underlying business value. While it is usually lauded as the next fuel, on its own, data has no power. The exhilarating industry-wide rise in digital transformations have increased the IoT numbers and accelerated data generation. But, that would only fill data centers and elevate expenditures rather than bring success; until businesses decide to use them.
Edge Computing is one of the most named technologies and rightly so! As per a research, by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be processed at edge devices, compared to only 10% today. Edge computing brings the processing of computing resources closer as compared to traditional & cloud data centers, such that actions can take place in response to analysis of that data. This helps to reduce the latency substantially and decrease the demand for network bandwidth in addition to a host of other benefits. The edge device ecosystem is comprised of multiple components which majorly include cloud, edge devices, edge nodes, edge clusters and edge gateway. Each component works in tandem to enable edge functionalities.
In a highly competitive market, Telecoms need to leverage the latest technological innovations and offerings to sustain and accelerate growth. The imperative for Telecom players is to aggressively move into active conversations with their IT solutions providers and knowledge partners and take a leap towards edge computing as they set course toward a thriving future.
To ensure a seamless and successful shift to edge computing, telecom companies must carefully think through their digital strategy
This blog captures the size, growth and market of Edge Computing. Anil shares how Edge Computing is trending. A few use cases by industries are discussed. Anil emphasizes on importance of edge computing for Industry 4.0.
The promise of stringent low latency use cases in 5G can be only fulfilled by MEC. It’s an enabler in 5G to provide an enhanced customer experience and plays a crucial role in making new age digital services like autonomous car, AR/VR gaming, drone, robotics, and many others a reality. These low latency use cases of MEC promise to unlock new revenue streams for Telcos. MEC makes the Telcos environment more dynamic, open, programmable and exposes its APIs to third party which are enterprises to run their applications in close proximity to end-users. Telcos MEC landscape is complex and it comprises of various players from infrastructure providers to silicon players to hyperscalers to enterprise. With Telcos at the core, all these players are evolving and transforming themselves to have a significant presence at the edge. In a MEC landscape of Telcos, infrastructure providers are establishing the edge, silicon players are powering the edge, hyperscalers are catalyzing the edge and for enterprises its new era where they are programing the use cases at edge.
The successful development and deployment of MEC landscape at the Telco will require very good understanding of these players. For the MEC ecosystem to flourish at Telcos, collaboration and co-innovation at the edge of these different players – infrastructure providers, silicon players, hyperscalers and enterprise, which can foster innovative services in agile delivery model is the key. This blog talks about the various players which comprises of Telcos MEC landscape and how they are transforming themselves to perform at edge
Technologies continue to evolve to manage the diversified market needs. With the advent of 5G, the Telco industry digitalization has already entered into a new transformation. Now Telcos focus is on customer experience rather than merely providing connectivity. Data processing near the edge becomes the core behind this implementation. Edge computing is not a new approach. However, the inclusion of network functions virtualization (NFV) and related distributed cloud radio access network(RAN) architecture becomes new. These technology features can enable low latency services on a level not even considered five years ago. Edge enables 5G ultra-reliable low-latency connectivity (URLLC), helping to transform Telcos from “Digital Service Provider” (DSPs) to “Experience Service Providers” (ESPs).
MEC is designed to enable flexible and rapid deployment of new applications and services for customers as it is introduced to run the applications and performance-related processing tasks closer to the cellular customer. MEC allows Telco’s to open their network to authorized third parties, such as application developers and content providers, to develop use cases and vertical-specific applications.
5G is about delivering business outcomes for CSPs. With the 5G Network Rollout, though the new kinds of spectrum bands grab all the headlines, the truth is that when it comes to 5G, radio access is just the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath is actually what helps realize those lucrative business outcomes of 5G. Unlocking the full potential of 5G cannot happen without a move to the cloud. Cloud and 5G are not possible without automation and security. Moreover, none of this transformation is possible without a common IP service fabric that can deliver massive capacity, elastic scalability, network slicing, and stringent timing. Finally, without edge and cross-industry and IOT solutions, CSPs can’t monetize the 5G beyond the otherwise connectivity solutions. CSPs have to succeed further on improving customer experiences and their own internal cost for effectively putting more skin in the game on these otherwise 5G imperatives
Communication Service Providers(CSPs) are on their digital transformation journey where they are evolving themselves from dumb pipes to smart pipes connecting all the enterprises in digital way by bringing innovative use cases. The digital services will bring new revenue streams to Communication Service Providers(CSPs) and will help them in getting returns on their spend on 5G infrastructure and spectrum. 5G makes landscape of Communication Service Provider complex as it requires multivendor integration, validation expertise, set up of hybrid infrastructure network comprising of VNFs, CNFs, multi vertical experience in use case development and many others. Despite challenges in its landscape Communication Service Providers(CSPs) are taking part in race to 5G. They need to stay competitive in today’s market, they need to evolve at much higher pace and launch services with reduced time-to-market (TTM) and at the same time keeping cost down.
Communication Service Providers(CSPs) expect their prime suppliers Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs to own not only the 5G integration but also to address aspects of end-to-end performance and to bring new value creation approach. Original Equipment Manufacturers, OEMs are finding this change far more complex than any other technology and are facing many challenges. They are looking for the right global system integrator partner in place who can alleviate the pressure. HCL can be one such right partner who can co-innovate, co-create with shared risks and responsibilities with its OEM partner. HCL investments in joint partner solutions, multi-vendor partner ecosystem, new 5G use cases, IPs and accelerators can complement OEMs portfolio.
The first flight of the Wright Brothers, and the dawn of 5G. There is little in common between these technology milestones from different millennia. However, Flight + 5G is right about now poised to instigate a revolution like none before. Unmanned Aircraft Systems, UAS or “Drones”, combined with the power of 5G networks, are about to invade our lives in ways that will outshine that screen in your hands. Resistance will be thoroughly futile. With growing interest from Telecom Operators and OEMs, coupled with a steady easing of government regulations, in the next 3-5 years, drones will become indispensable.
