5G is set to play a key role in connecting edge Computing

An obvious question is on what does the future hold for edge computing? Many says that, the edge to become as ubiquitous as “the cloud” in the tech industry. As we expect 5G to increase the speed up to ten times that of 4G, whereas mobile edge computing reduces latency by bringing compute capabilities into the network, closer to the end user. 5G and edge computing are both poised to significantly improve the performance of applications and enable huge amounts of data to be processed in real-time. Experts are commenting on, 5G and edge computing are opening a world of new revenue opportunities across manufacturing, transport, gaming and more. The edge computing opportunity should be seen in a larger context of the enterprise opportunity, where edge computing will be an enabler for many broader use cases.

According to a new Gartner report, “Around 10% of enterprise-generated data is created and processed outside a traditional centralized data center or cloud. By 2022, Gartner predicts this figure will reach 75%”. Gartner defines edge computing as solutions that facilitate data processing at or near the source of data generation. For example, in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), the sources of data generation are usually things with sensors or embedded devices. Edge computing serves as the decentralized extension of the campus networks, cellular networks, data center networks or the cloud.

5G and edge computing are two inextricably linked technologies and both are poised to significantly improve the performance of applications and enable huge amounts of data to be processed in real-time.

Edge computing was developed due to the exponential growth of IoT devices, which connect to the internet for either receiving information from the cloud or delivering data back to the cloud. And many IoT devices generate enormous amounts of data during the course of their operations. Edge is transforming the way data is being handled, processed, and delivered from millions of devices around the world. The explosive growth of internet-connected devices – the IoT – along with new applications that require real-time computing power, continues to drive edge-computing systems.

Artificial intelligence and 5G are intrinsically linked to edge computing and the hybrid cloud. 5G fuels edge computing in the cloud, which will lead to more opportunities for AI and automation. Hybrid computing leverages edge computing. The principle difference in edge computing is you typically keep the computing platform or device near an IoT device that produces data. In the case of hybrid cloud, you want to keep the data on private or public clouds as close to the source (e.g., application) as possible. In both cases, you gain the advantage of lower latency and better logical partitioning of the data.