Mobile Edge Computing

In an increasingly connected world, how data is generated, gathered, and analyzed at the edge—particularly how information is passed between device and the cloud—is unlocking new technologies, services, and experiences at a rapid pace. MEC becomes a versatile tool across a wide range of contexts and industries for both consumers and enterprises.

Security and surveillance: Digital cameras in near constant use generate data. A lot of it. Having MEC as part of a camera network allows facilities to store and process data from many sources, faster. High bandwidth supports high image quality, and reliable compute power can analyze data quickly on-site (instead of at a centralized data center). For example, security cameras at a private warehouse facility can identify potential threats via facial recognition before they cause harm. Or traffic cameras can adapt to traffic conditions remotely rather than redirecting to a control center.

Augmented reality, virtual reality, and gaming: MEC enables remote workers across a variety of industries—including architecture, construction, and engineering—to deploy and use complex 3D renderings in the field with headsets and other mobile devices. Normally, if accessed through a non-distributed data center, these data-heavy renderings would cause too much latency to be useful. But MEC lets teams incorporate 3D designs into their specific workflows and improve collaboration.

Gaming applications work in a similar way. The rise of cloud-based gaming and its associated hardware (e.g., VR headsets, mobile games, streaming services, etc.) has decentralized video games away from the traditional console experience: local hardware, local software. Gamers can now access their favorite games, including data-heavy immersive experiences, on thinner clients with little to no latency.

Autonomous vehicles and robots: Emergent technologies like self-driving cars and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) need robust machine learning to make decisions quickly. If those decisions occur in a faraway data center, seconds could be the difference between avoiding potential collisions or obstacles and escalating disaster. With decisions happening physically close by in real time, a car can identify people, animals, and traffic in its path and navigate around them. Likewise, AMRs can still complete their tasks despite environmental or employee disruptions, helping minimize downtime and maintain productivity.

The ongoing deployment of 5G networks: As the next generation of a global wireless standard, 5G and the innovations that stem from it will rely on MEC to connect machines, objects, devices, and people everywhere. One of the principal selling points of widespread 5G networks is as its high-bandwidth, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), making MEC a virtually inseparable part of the conversation. The applications for 5G are as varied as MEC itself, capable of not only consumer-facing technology like video games and entertainment, but also mission-critical operations in education, agriculture, transportation logistics, and healthcare—areas where split-second action is the difference between success and failure, or even life and death.

The attractiveness of 5G connectivity extends to rural regions and other underserved areas, where internet access is not always strong or available. Making broadband access a reliable, consistent reality in these parts of world can create better opportunities for healthcare and education. Rather than driving hours for even basic care, people can use the internet to get the treatment they need, whether that’s primary care or mental health resources. With 5G, students also retain access to learning materials they need to excel in the classroom, as was the case during the pandemic when classrooms shifted to at-home learning.