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Verizon Completes Edge Computing Test on Live 5G Network

Verizon Completes Edge Computing Test on Live 5G Network Image Credit: YuktaLavannya/Thefastmode.com

Verizon recently completed a test on edge computing at its newly formed 5G test bed in Houston on live 5G network, cutting latency in half.

Low latency - the time it takes for information to make a roundtrip - is important today for applications like online gaming and video streaming, and will be increasingly vital as next generation wireless experiences emerge.

Verizon engineers installed Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC) equipment and MEC platform software into a network facility closer to the network edge, thus decreasing the distance that information needs to travel between a wireless device and the compute infrastructure with which that device’s apps are interacting. 

In this test, the engineers used an Automated Intelligence (AI) enabled facial recognition application to identify people. Using MEC equipment located in the network facility, the application was able to analyze information right at the edge of the network where the application was being used (instead of traversing multiple hops to the nearest centralized data center).  As a result, the engineers were able to successfully identify the individual twice as fast as when they duplicated the experiment using the centralized data center.  Putting the compute power closer to the user at the network edge greatly decreased the time to deliver the experience – a key benefit of the Verizon Intelligent Edge Network.

As 5G rolls out, we will see a rise in wireless applications that are heavily dependent on low latency, says Verizon. Hosting events at venues, industrial automation, retail, gaming, and video analytics with AI will all benefit from MEC technology, added the Operator.

Adam Koeppe, SVP for Network Planning, Verizon
For applications requiring low latency, sending huge quantities of data to and from the centralized cloud is no longer practical. Data processing and management will need to take place much closer to the user. MEC moves application processing, storage, and management to the Radio Access Network’s edge to deliver the desired low latency experiences, thereby enabling new disruptive technologies.

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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