- News
- June 15, 2023
- TeckNexus Editorial
DISH Wireless's 5G service is now available to over 240 million people in the U.S. They also launched 5G voice service, extending their advanced connectivity solutions nationwide.
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Edge/MEC
Edge computing and multi-access edge computing (MEC) place processing close to where data is generated — at the network edge rather than in distant centralized clouds — to cut latency and reduce backhaul. For applications that demand fast, local responses, such as industrial automation, computer vision, AR, and autonomous systems, the edge is often what makes them viable. Edge is tightly linked to 5G standalone, private networks, and AI inference, and is a key area where operators, hyperscalers, and enterprises both compete and partner. For decision-makers, the questions are where edge genuinely beats centralized cloud and how to balance on-premises, network-edge, and public-cloud processing. This channel covers edge and MEC across operator, hyperscaler, and enterprise deployments — architectures, partnerships, and use cases — with analysis of where moving compute to the edge actually pays off.
- News
- June 7, 2023
- TeckNexus Editorial
Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson have developed a secure 5G network slicing that directly connects to a private cloud, addressing enterprise concerns over adopting edge use cases. The proof-of-concept has significant implications for the future of 5G technology, particularly around network slicing, with the potential to provide premium, revenue-generating services. However, security concerns persist, highlighting the need for careful management of network slices.
- News
- May 31, 2023
- News Feed
OneLayer delivered a 300% return on investment (ROI) to its valued utility customers when securing private 5G/LTE networks.
- Podcast
- May 31, 2023
- 5G Guys
Welcome back to the 5G Guys podcast! We were joined by an exceptional guest, Peter Schroeder. As a young entrepreneur and Danish DJ turned CEO of the telecommunications platform Telzio, Peter has a unique journey. Peter's success isn't just about his...
- News
- May 25, 2023
- News Feed
The Icelandic government has initiated a program to assess the suitability of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space-based connectivity across the Arctic nation in partnership with a satellite communications company, OneWeb. Iceland will initially evaluate OneWeb's Global Connectivity Solution over the course of a three-month trial period. It will then have the option to extend services indefinitely, which could include the deployment of additional ground-based infrastructure as well as airborne, maritime, and on-the-pause/on-the-move UTs.
- Article & Insights
- May 16, 2023
- Hema Kadia
This edition is dedicated to "Shaping the Future with Connectivity and Tech," a theme that truly encapsulates the transformative power of technology in our lives. In this edition, we delve into the multifaceted world of 5G, AI, AR/VR, IoT, and other emerging technologies rapidly revolutionizing various aspects of our society, from our workplaces to our shopping experiences to industrial sectors.
- Article & Insights
- May 16, 2023
- Hema Kadia
The article explores how 5G, AI, and AR/VR are transforming a range of vertical industries, including manufacturing, transportation, energy and utilities, healthcare, education, retail, mining, agriculture/agritech, and smart cities. It highlights the benefits of these technologies, including increased efficiency and productivity, improved customer satisfaction, and new opportunities for growth. The article also discusses the challenges associated with these technologies, including privacy and security concerns and accessibility issues. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of inclusive technologies and services, and the responsible and ethical use of these technologies, in order to ensure that the benefits of 5G, AI, and AR/VR are accessible to all and used for the betterment of society.
- Article & Insights
- May 16, 2023
- Hema Kadia
The private network revolution is transforming how businesses secure their operations and data by leveraging connectivity and emerging technologies. These dedicated private networks offer enhanced security, improved network performance, scalability, better control, and support for edge computing, network slicing, and IoT applications. As a result, businesses can embrace Industry 4.0, leading to increased efficiency and automation. While there are challenges to consider, such as cost, regulatory requirements, and integration with existing infrastructure, businesses are adopting these technologies and securing their future in the digital landscape.
- Article & Insights
- May 16, 2023
- Hema Kadia
Edge computing is a rapidly evolving technology that processes data near its source, enabling faster decision-making, reduced latency, and improved data security. This new technology, coupled with 5G, is unlocking new use cases for IoT applications across various industries, including industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, healthcare, retail, and AR/VR. However, businesses must address the challenges and considerations related to infrastructure, security, integration, and talent to implement and benefit from edge computing solutions successfully.
- Article & Insights
- May 16, 2023
- Hema Kadia
The digital twin revolution is changing how businesses optimize their operations by using virtual models to simulate, predict, and enhance real-world processes. Digital twins provide numerous benefits, such as enhanced performance and efficiency, predictive maintenance, improved decision-making, reduced time-to-market, and better collaboration. With use cases across industries like manufacturing, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and smart cities, digital twin technology is becoming increasingly important for businesses. However, organizations must address challenges related to data quality, integration, security, cost, and expertise to implement and benefit from digital twin technology successfully.
- News
- May 15, 2023
- Dave Duggal
EnterpriseWeb announced that it will premiere the first telco-grade demonstration of generative AI for network service orchestration today at Informa’s Big 5G event in Austin, Texas. The company, which ran the telecom industry’s first Network Function Virtualization proof-of-concept in 2013 and is known for its advanced automation capabilities, partnered with KX to enable next generation AI-powered Telecom operations.
- News
- May 15, 2023
- News Feed
OneWeb and iSAT Africa LTD have signed a Distribution Partnership Agreement to bring high-speed, low-latency broadband connectivity across Africa. As a result, iSAT Africa will drive a shared objective of connecting the unconnected and serving the underserved communities of Africa, which in turn will help iSAT Africa grow the regional economy, improve access to education and health care, and give people and communities across the continent more power by providing reliable, high-speed broadband connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between ‘the cloud’ and ‘the edge’ in telecom?
Cloud computing typically runs in a relatively small number of large, centralized data centers, often located far from any individual user, which is efficient for many workloads but introduces unavoidable physical distance, and therefore latency, between where data is generated and where it’s processed. Edge computing, specifically MEC, places computing resources much closer to where data actually originates, at cell towers, base stations, or local facilities, cutting the round-trip delay for applications where that distance meaningfully matters. The tradeoff is that edge sites generally have far less raw computing capacity than a massive centralized data center, so edge deployments tend to handle specific, latency-sensitive workloads locally while still relying on the broader cloud for less time-critical processing and coordination.
Is MEC mainly a telecom-specific concept, or does it apply more broadly?
It started as a mobile-network-specific concept, originally called Mobile Edge Computing when ETSI introduced it in the mid-2010s, focused on placing computing resources within mobile radio access network infrastructure. ETSI broadened the concept to Multi-access Edge Computing in 2017 specifically to extend it beyond cellular networks to also cover fixed-line broadband and Wi-Fi access, recognizing that the underlying need, computing resources close to the point of data generation, applies regardless of access technology. Current standards work is extending the concept further still, with ETSI’s MEC group releasing Phase 4 specifications in late 2025 focused on developer-friendly APIs for vertical industries and explicit alignment with emerging 6G requirements.
What applications actually benefit from edge computing?
The clearest use cases are ones where milliseconds genuinely matter, or where large amounts of locally generated data would otherwise need to travel back to a distant data center unnecessarily. Autonomous vehicles need to process sensor data and make navigation decisions in near real time, where even modest added latency could be meaningful for safety. Industrial automation and predictive maintenance benefit from edge processing of sensor data from factory equipment. AR and VR applications need responsive, low-latency rendering support. Smart city video analytics, like traffic monitoring, generates enormous volumes of video data far more efficient to process locally. Increasingly, running AI inference closer to users for real-time applications is becoming one of the most significant edge use cases of all.
Why are telecom operators excited about edge computing as a revenue source?
Beyond reducing backhaul costs, edge sites give telecom operators something cloud hyperscalers don’t have by default: physical proximity and direct integration with the radio network across thousands of locations nationwide. This positions operators uniquely to offer latency-sensitive computing services that a centralized cloud data center simply can’t match on responsiveness, regardless of raw computing power. Operators are increasingly positioning these edge locations specifically as AI inference points, sometimes described as compact ‘AI factories,’ capable of running real-time AI workloads close to users. This opens a genuinely new monetization path beyond selling connectivity itself, letting operators compete in the broader computing and AI infrastructure market using distributed physical infrastructure cloud-only providers would need years to replicate.
How mature is MEC deployment in 2026?
By 2026, MEC has moved well past the concept or early-pilot stage into active, expanding commercial deployment. ETSI’s MEC group has produced more than 50 technical specifications covering reference architectures, service enablers, and deployment guidelines, and released its Phase 4 work in late 2025, focused on developer-friendly APIs and explicit alignment with open-source projects and 6G preparation. Telecom operators worldwide are actively pairing MEC deployments with private 5G networks, AI workloads, and Open RAN integration in live commercial deployments rather than isolated trials. The technology continues to mature rather than being fully settled; convergence between MEC and Open RAN architectures remains an active area of development.
How does edge computing relate to private 5G networks?
Edge computing and private 5G networks are frequently deployed together because they solve complementary problems for the same enterprise use cases. A private 5G network provides dedicated, reliable, high-performance wireless connectivity across a facility like a factory or port, while edge computing provides the local processing power needed to actually act on the data that connectivity carries, without sending everything back to a distant cloud data center. A manufacturing facility, for example, might use private 5G to connect cameras and sensors across the factory floor, with an edge deployment at that same facility processing video analytics or controlling automated machinery in near real time. This pairing is one of the most common patterns in enterprise digital transformation projects today.
What’s the difference between edge computing and Open RAN’s ‘Cloud RAN’ concept?
Edge computing and Cloud RAN address related but distinct parts of the network. Cloud RAN refers specifically to running radio access network functions, the software controlling how a cell site transmits and receives wireless signals, on cloud-based, software-defined infrastructure rather than dedicated radio hardware. Edge computing, particularly MEC, refers more broadly to running general-purpose application workloads, not just radio network functions, close to the network edge, things like video analytics, AI inference, or industrial automation software. In practice, the two concepts increasingly converge physically, since the same edge infrastructure supporting Cloud RAN’s virtualized radio functions can often also host MEC application workloads on shared hardware.
What are the biggest technical challenges in deploying edge computing at scale?
Deploying edge computing at scale introduces several persistent technical challenges. Managing and orchestrating computing resources across potentially thousands of geographically distributed edge sites is meaningfully more complex than managing a small number of centralized data centers, since each edge location has limited physical space, power, and cooling capacity. Ensuring consistent security across so many distributed locations, each a potential point of vulnerability, requires more extensive security architecture than securing a handful of centralized facilities. There’s also a workload placement challenge: deciding which tasks genuinely benefit from edge processing versus which are better handled centrally, since over-provisioning edge capacity for workloads that don’t truly require it can be an inefficient use of limited, expensive infrastructure.
