How does 5G make the dream of edge computing come true?

By the time 2025 arrives, the actual edge adoption could be significantly higher than predicted due to the data culture that’s being widely adopted across various industries. It sits at the core of any digital strategy, making business operations heavily data-driven. So, in the next couple of years, network solution providers will focus on optimizing this data pipeline, and the 5G wave will catalyze the edge capabilities and accessibility.

The common thread between 5G and edge computing

Though 5G is still in the early stages of development, under ideal conditions, it is said to be nearly 100 times faster than 4G. These improvements rely more on the virtual infrastructure than the physical ones. 5G network infrastructure is increasingly cloud-based, enabling providers to customize its speed, security, capacity, and coverage according to their business requirements.

As edge computing stays within the user’s or source’s proximity, it drastically reduces the network latency while making the whole pipeline more efficient- both in terms of speed and accuracy. Usually, the data travels from the source to the core data center, and from here, the data is processed. Now edge and 5G create this web of touch-points and act as an extension of the business’s virtual environment. So, data travels relatively less distance than it does in existing systems, allowing faster insights, more control over data, reduced costs, and seamless business operations.

We are in the middle of the IoT revolution, and we’re already producing 1.7 MB of data per second on average. This amounts to nearly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data per day! Now imagine the strain on the pipeline carrying this data constantly to the core data center and returning it to the system. The number of devices that create data will only increase in the coming days, and these devices will create faster and more complex data than the devices at present create now. So, we need a bigger pipe that allows us to carry these data and an environment that lets us store and access them. Enter 5G and edge!

The Edge plus IoT revolution

Transformation typified by Industry 4.0 has already set the stage for edge computing. Many global brands have already started going the edge way, as it amplifies their data game. With technologies like generative AI, machine learning, augmented reality, and Big Data, along with edge computing, shows businesses are channeling their energy to create a holistic digital experience for their clients and consumers. The pressure for businesses to evolve into digital enterprises is accelerating the pace of technological adoption, and edge computing will be at the top of the list as the market moves forward.

Though IoT technologies have been in the market for a long time, the edge unleashes a higher level of digital capabilities with potential IoT frameworks. For instance, there are many business organizations and government agencies using advanced IoT integrated devices like buoys and sensors to collect data. In a conventional approach, the data would be sent to an external source like GPS satellites or someone has to manually transfer the data from these devices to analyze it. But with edge computing capabilities, the data can be stored and processed more efficiently, drastically simplifying the process.

Given the edge’s dynamic nature, it will soon be the new normal, and business leaders who prioritize edge transformation will be the ones to dominate the new marketplace.

About the author

Madhu Kesavan is the founder and CEO of W2S Solutions, a globally recognized cloud computing company empowering enterprises and governments in their digital journey. With over 20 years of experience in IT, he empowers organizations’ vision by leveraging cutting-edge technology.

DISCLAIMER: Guest posts are submitted content. The views expressed in this post are that of the author, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Edge Industry Review (EdgeIR.com).

Article Topics

5G  |  cloud  |  data  |  Industry 4.0  |  IoT  |  W2S Solutions