Edge Computing and 5G- A New Revolution in Telecommunication

While there is a lot of emphasis on the use of cloud technology for data storage; over time edge computing has gathered momentum. Especially with data centers becoming smaller in size, the quality and speed of communication must be maintained. And that’s where edge computing comes into play. Coupled with the next-generation 5G networks, this combination can mean a revolution in the field of telecommunication in the coming days. Let’s take a deeper look into what exactly is edge computing and how it is related to 5G. We will also explore a few examples where the edge computing and 5G duo is being used in applications.

What Exactly is Edge Computing?

Simply put, edge computing is a distributed system that puts both the data storage and the computation part physically closer to the location of requirement. This system results in low latency due to the high speed of transmission and more bandwidth. Thus, the response times in edge computing is faster than the average.

As you can imagine, having low latency is crucial to the quality of service of the 5G communication system. This is especially true since a 5G network is designed to handle a large number of users and speed can become an issue in such a scenario.

Edge Computing and 5G

Though edge computing and 5G network systems are often used in conjunction, they are by no means inter-dependent on each other. In fact, this is an example of two already efficient systems coming together to create something highly beneficial as a whole.

The need for virtualization of 5G will have telecom operators investing in computing facilities all over the world. These centers will operate the virtualized networking equipment and can be effectively used for an enhanced edge computing implementation. Imagine all the computational resources owned by Verizon across the country and you will get an idea of the high potential of edge computing in this scenario.

Moreover, service providers like AT&T or Verizon also control the routing of mobile traffic, even on the newly launched 5G networks. This means that the operators sign off the “local breakout of 5G traffic” for an edge computing system in a particular location. In absence of this, the traffic will always be redirected to the default Internet Exchange Point (IXP) at a given location, thus resulting in high latency and interruptions of services like virtual reality.

Thus edge computing optimizes the 5G network in very specific ways to obtain a highly efficient combined system.

Advantages of edge computing and 5G applications

• Low Latency Targets– It is not possible to achieve the low latency targets with just improvements of the radio interfaces in the 5G mechanism. Edge computing is crucial if telecom companies want to have the levels of low latency ( approx. 1ms network latency) that is essential for a robust network.
• Overcoming the 5G Go Slow Cycle– With the operators deploying the 5G networks at a gradual rate, it is evident that the full network coverage of 5G will not only be time-consuming but also insufficient for innovative applications. However, with edge computing, 5G can achieve its full potential in a much faster and widespread manner.

Applications

Here are a couple of examples of how edge computing and 5G can be applied together for real-life issues-

• Manufacturers can implement edge computing along with 5G IoT cameras and sensors in plants in remote areas. This will allow them to monitor the processes and ensure the safety of the physical location based on real-time data processing.
• A security company providing AR headsets to their personnel will want to use edge computing along with the 5G networks so that they can ensure that the headsets remain functional even in areas with high network latency.

The field of telecommunications changing in leaps and bounds and everyday innovations are happening in this space. In order to stay relevant in such a rapidly evolving and competitive market, businesses need to remain adaptable and explore new ideas like edge computing.