As interest and investment in edge computing and 5G continue to grow, various applications stand to benefit from their convergence.

　　Edge computing is playing an increasingly important role in creating and processing data. By 2025, 50% of enterprise data is expected to be created and processed at the edge, compared to only 10% today.

　　At the same time, investment in 5G infrastructure is accelerating rapidly as the pace of deployment accelerates. McKinsey predicts that by 2025, telecom companies will invest more than $600 billion in 5G infrastructure.

　　”It's clear that edge computing and 5G are transforming the way we leverage data, whether it's in manufacturing operations, asset management, omnichannel operations, smart grids, freight monitoring, intelligent transportation systems, public safety, or emergency response systems. However, because they focus on different areas of data activity, these advances beg the question: "What happens if you combine them?" ”

　　In short, this convergence has led to exciting new applications that were previously unattainable for many industries. The convergence of edge computing and 5G enables unparalleled data and application access by reducing latency and optimizing service delivery at the network edge. This is critical for emerging applications including autonomous vehicles, autonomous robots, safety enhancements, and augmented/virtual reality.

▲By 2025, 50% of enterprise data will be created and processed at the edge, compared to 10% today.

　　01 The Potential for Synergy: Unlocking the Power of Fusion

　　Edge computing combined with 5G can enhance digital experiences, improve performance, promote data security, and enable uninterrupted operations across multiple industries. It enables unprecedented data accessibility, as well as reliable and secure access to two-way communication. Connectivity combined with advanced computing brings greater potential for manufacturing enterprises to grow.

　　Edge computing brings data storage and computing closer to where the environment, things, and people create data. Edge data centers create localized processing regions and collect and analyze data locally, reducing latency typically associated with centralized cloud applications. The reduction in latency consists of two parts – network latency and application latency.

        Network latency is the time it takes for packets to traverse the network and return minus the computational time that the application might take. The 5G standard itself is able to reduce network latency, especially after the release of the 16th version of the standard with ultra-low latency connectivity (URLLC).

　　Application latency is the time it takes to calculate itself. Tightly coupled network and computing can reduce latency in applications by tightly coupling network and computing through a multi-access edge computing (MEC) software platform running on edge servers that communicate seamlessly with 5G networks. For latency-critical applications, these two elements need to work together to provide low enough latency for computer vision processing and immersive applications.

　　To achieve these functions, technological advancements in different fields are needed. As mentioned above, the 3GPP 5G standard and MEC are the two main aspects. Other key advancements include miniaturization and virtualization of network infrastructure, increased edge computing capabilities, availability of reservable spectrum for industrial use, and advancements in the speed and accuracy of object detection and classification in AI and machine learning applications, such as computer vision.

　　In the past, cellular base stations were large and expensive, significantly higher than Wi-Fi network infrastructure. The chip of the device-side cellular modem is also much more expensive than the Wi-Fi client chip and device. This gap has narrowed significantly with the development of 5G, which is the size of a pizza box and has a lower total cost of ownership than Wi-Fi in many large-scale industrial environments. In addition, most of the functions of 5G networks are now enabled through software without the need for specialized chips and hardware, so network functions and application security patches can be updated remotely.

　　Edge computing servers have undergone a similar transformation. Where computer shelves used to be large and bulky, a briefcase-sized server can now run powerful enterprise applications.

        Spectrum is another major leap. In some countries, including the US, UK, and Germany, spectrum can be easily and directly reserved by businesses at their location, without the complexity of booking spectrum for mobile carriers. Compared to using unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum for mission-critical connectivity, using reserved spectrum can reduce business risk by avoiding production line downtime, safety incidents, and more.

　　Over the past few years, advances in AI/ML have also opened up significant opportunities to improve operational efficiency, safety, quality, and cost. 5G cameras can capture video streams to monitor product quality in production lines. Drones connected to 5G can inspect for defects in solar, wind, refineries, trains, or power lines. Using real-time computer vision applications based on machine learning, warehouse robots can safely zip past each other and people working in close proximity. However, these AI applications require high-throughput, low-latency 5G networks and edge computing to deliver results in real-time. In addition, all this video data can be secured by restricting it to industrial locations and geographic operating areas, reducing security vulnerabilities for businesses.

　　02  Immersive experiences powered by edge computing

　　The edge enables businesses to enhance and improve the way they use and manage physical assets, enabling them to develop unique interactive experiences for their customers. Today, brand manufacturers are leveraging edge computing to process and respond to customer interactions faster than ever before, leading to continuous innovation and improvement in the customer experience space. Since edge computing does not rely on internet connectivity, businesses can support uninterrupted customer experiences regardless of unstable connections or server outages. If 5G speeds and low latency are achieved through robust implementation, the requirements for Open Radio Access Networks (ORAN) will also increase dramatically.

　　With edge computing, businesses can deliver hyper-personalized and omnichannel customer experiences by providing services that work in parallel with edge devices. As the edge reduces data latency associated with cloud computing, it opens up new avenues for better customer service, engaging with users in real-time across multiple channels, enhancing customer satisfaction and brand presence

　　03  55G and edge computing use cases

　　With the further promotion of 5G, some existing edge computing application areas will also be improved.

　　Medical: Robotic-assisted surgical procedures can make the surgical process smoother for surgeons, with shorter procedures and less invasive for patients. In this case, edge computing brings several small changes, but these changes add up to have a significant impact. For example, the incision size is reduced so that the surgeon can get the best view of the surgical site without having to stand. They can also take advantage of more intuitive and natural controls.

        Automotive: Edge computing provides autonomous vehicles with improved safety and reliability, faster decision-making, better bandwidth utilization, and enhanced privacy. Edge computing improves vehicle safety through rapid sensor data analysis and identification of obstacles, if any. Its decentralized architecture allows for improved reliability, allowing vehicles to operate even in the event of network outages. On-premises data processing eliminates the need to transmit data to remote servers, enhancing data privacy and security. By limiting the amount of data sent to the cloud, edge computing can also optimize bandwidth usage.

　　Manufacturing: Edge computing allows manufacturers to introduce automation in their supply chains and factory floors through machine-to-machine communication and advanced robotics, all closer to the data source. Instead of transmitting data to a server for analysis and response, edge computing enables tasks such as pipeline flow monitoring, machine cycle tracking, and sheet metal fatigue detection to be performed locally. This approach reduces latency and allows for quick analysis and corrective action.

　　Asset Management: Edge computing can enable real-time monitoring and decision-making closer to assets, enabling remote asset management. With edge computing, organizations can collect and process data locally, improving response time, maintenance, uptime, and asset utilization. Edge computing also minimizes businesses' reliance on continuous network connectivity, allowing them to optimize their operations and maximize productivity.

　　Retail: Edge computing enables retail businesses to drive real-time marketing to enhance customer experience. Because edge computing can react quickly to customer inputs, brands can deliver hyper-personalized experiences and increase revenue and loyalty. One major application of edge computing in the retail industry is contactless checkout. The in-store edge network can process data collected by in-store cameras using artificial intelligence, which is trained to identify store items and enable automated checkout when customers leave the store through a specific aisle. Obviously, this way there is no need to wait in line.

　　04  Improvement of key indicators

　　With 5G, edge computing can create opportunities for new platforms, new experiences, and new products across industries. Through the computing power of edge devices, networks, and gateways, businesses can leverage the continuous delivery and robust resource allocation principles inherent in cloud computing. Modern enterprises can also virtualize the cloud beyond the data center. Cloud workloads, including modern AI and analytics, can be migrated to the edge. Edge Computing Support:

　　■  Improve data control and reduce costs by minimizing vulnerabilities and data transfer to a central hub;

　　■ Gain insights and action faster by leveraging more data sources and processing data at the edge;

　　■ Uninterrupted operation is achieved by supporting systems that operate on their own even without an internet connection, thereby reducing costs and interruptions.

　　05  Multi-access edge computing

　　Edge computing, as the next stage of cloud computing, helps provide users with localized data, thereby reducing network load. Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) is a significant step forward that shows how cloud computing can be used for faster communication and networking. When used in conjunction with 5G, MEC provides higher processing and network speeds, enabling high-bandwidth data transmission and low-latency connectivity.

　The convergence of 5G and edge computing will drive business across all industries and change the way businesses operate and people work. It will enable businesses to market in real-time and provide hyper-personalization, recommendations, shopping, and a variety of other advanced practices to enhance the customer experience while optimizing the cost of data transfer. At the shop floor and enterprise level, it will impact all areas of industrial-grade connectivity, from mechanization to assembly lines and automation, enabling hyper-personalization as well as real-time corrective actions.

　Adopting an open, hybrid, and multi-cloud architecture ensures that organizations can leverage data to deliver innovative, connected experiences, whether their data is in a public or private cloud, or running in a centralized or on-premises data center.

　　Key concepts:

　　■ Learn about the breakthrough new applications brought about by 5G and multi-access edge computing.

　　■ The convergence of edge computing and 5G enables better data and application accessibility by reducing latency and optimizing service delivery at the edge of the network.

        Think about it:

　　Which 5G and edge computing applications will benefit your business the most?

*信息来源于：控制工程网。