Latin America. According to Daniel de Vinatea, Sales Operations and Delivery & Execution Director for Vertiv LATAM, edge computing and the 5G network are topics with enormous potential to facilitate and take advantage of the digital transformation accelerated by the pandemic.
According to the expert, the expansion of these topics is a symbiotic relationship. "Although edge computing has been around for years, its growth will be greatly affected by the 5G network and it undoubtedly depends on the edge of the network for successful adoption."
Then, in order to meet the needs of digitization, Daniel assures that applications are focusing on offering increasingly fluid experiences, where latency becomes an enemy.
"In this context, edge computing offers small data centers or micro data centers, which include scaled infrastructure of power management, thermal management and IT management, deployed closer to data consumers to deliver the lowest latency. However, for this to be possible, a 5G network that offers the right speed, bandwidth and connectivity characteristics is needed."
In simpler words, 5G facilitates and expands the potential of what edge computing does.
Daniel went on to explain, "We speak, then, of a win-win relationship that paves the way for a new revolution in the production and operation processes of multiple industries, and allows them to be more efficient, automated and productive."
An Vertiv post shared important data. According to IDC's global forecasts, 50% of the world's infrastructure is expected to be at the edge of the network by 2024. In addition, investment at the edge of the 5G network is increasing in Latin America. In fact, the consulting firm expects that, by 2024, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the region will reach 16%, which translates into an investment of $8573 million.
IDC forecasts that the largest contributors to network spending in the region will include innovations in autonomous vehicles, robotics, enhanced reality, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The potential for verticals
According to an official statement from the brand, the implementation of edge computing and 5G network in the most dynamic industries is already having interesting operational effects in the world, which could add a lot of value to the development of the Latin American region.
In terms of manufacturing, the network edge makes it possible to manage growing factory data, systematize production processes, and even remotely monitor and control machines via the Internet of Things (IoT). Meanwhile, at the consumer level, smart retail and enhanced reality are changing the shopping experience entirely.
Other examples are visible in healthcare and the potential it represents for telemedicine to more easily access patients, such as telesurgery, to enable better use of expert time and help more patients through remote robotic surgery. Another example is education, with the 5G network that massifies the use of the Internet and the synchronization of applications so that students can attend a virtual lesson anywhere and whenever they want.
In addition, remote crane control in ports has allowed the logistics industry to improve its productivity and ensure continuous operations, even during the confinement of the pandemic, as well as offer additional levels of safety for its employees. Similar situations have occurred in the mining industry with self-driving trucks.
"The potential of the edge is enormous; however, as mentioned above, its growth is directly related to the penetration of the 5G network and, in this field, Latin America has a lot of work to do."
The edge and the 5G network, union of worlds
"Availability, security, power management and monitoring are challenges when we talk about the union of the 5G network and edge computing around the world. As these technologies gain traction, data centers have become more complex and management more demanding, as operators must manage hundreds (or thousands) of data centers at the edge to maximize the potential of their 5G networks."
That is precisely the challenge they seek to address at Vertiv by defining the four edge infrastructure models, designed to standardize the design and deployment of multiple edge hubs, including those that support 5G networks: the device edge, the micro-edge, the data center at the distributed edge, and the data center at the regional edge.
