According to a recent report by the International Data Corporation, there will be more than 40 billion IoT devices generating approximately 80 terabytes of data by 2025. With so many connected devices and so much data entering the network, there will be an increasing need for federated computing power, and this is where 5G and edge computing come into play.
Enhance edge computing with 5G: Better together
Edge computing is a distributed computing model that addresses the limitations of centralized systems by allowing data to be processed and analyzed closer to the customer or within the device itself. Integration with 5G also helps deliver massive amounts of data faster, making it ideal for edge computing networks.
Gartner research shows that the proportion of company data processed outside of centralized data centers or clouds will increase from 10% in 2018 to 75% in 2025. This growth demonstrates that the advantages of both technologies, edge computing and 5G, make them an extremely promising and powerful combination for enterprises across all industries.
Advantages of 5G and edge computing for IoT
Since 2019, 5G and edge computing in IoT have become inseparable. 5G increases speeds to more than ten times that of 4G, while edge computing accelerates response times by bringing data processing closer to devices and users. Working together, they can significantly improve the operation of IoT applications, providing:
Exponential bandwidth. 5G accelerates bandwidth, which means it can handle more connected devices, which can respond in milliseconds.
Ultra low latency. Combined with 5G, edge computing significantly reduces latency, enabling the delivery of mission-critical services that require ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (URLLC).
Less power consumption. Edge computing technology can reduce energy consumption by removing computing requirements from the device and placing it at the edge.
Minimize network traffic. Edge computing aggregates and processes IoT data at the edge of the network, thereby reducing network traffic and transmission costs.
high performance. Using 5G, communication with the edge can be achieved quickly, and edge applications can quickly respond to the growing needs of consumers.
Data Security. Edge computing brings cloud computing capabilities to remote locations and provides local processing and storage when security is required.
5G and Edge Computing in IoT: Successful Use Cases
There are many 5G and edge computing applications in the real world. Their synergies can benefit many industries by reshaping value chains, enhancing revenue models and optimizing operations. Let’s look at 5G—an area where the edge computing ecosystem is already showing its potential.
Industrial manufacturing
5G and edge computing in industrial manufacturing offer opportunities beyond factory automation. Manufacturing companies see their value in more accurately predicting equipment failures, improving manufacturing efficiency and safety, minimizing downtime, reducing costs, reducing maintenance needs and delivering higher quality products.
Predictive maintenance: Edge computing technology connects to major automation systems via 5G networks, such as remote pumping, distribution site inspections and data processing. This helps monitor and identify potential faults and discrepancies in data in real time. With high-speed 5G networks, automated control systems can respond immediately in emergencies.
Oil and gas companies use 5G and edge computing capabilities for maintenance and repair activities. This includes AR/VR applications for guiding technicians through repairs, as well as drones for visual inspections of machinery, bridges or pumping stations. In all of these cases, using advanced analytics can help identify potential deficiencies or items that require maintenance.
Smart Factory: In a smart factory, connected devices sense their environment and operate with each other with the help of next-generation 5G and edge computing networks, enabling decentralized decision-making.
5G-enabled sensors accelerate automation processes and allow machines to update themselves and initiate new processes. These sensors assess the quality of manufactured products in real time, reducing the need for rework.
smart transportation
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) play a vital role in transforming cities into digital hubs. They improve transportation efficiency by minimizing traffic problems, improve mobility by providing users with traffic information, reduce commuters’ travel time, and improve their safety and comfort.
Vast amounts of data are generated by numerous sensors along roads, inside smart vehicles and in parking systems. This requires the powerful capabilities of 5G and edge computing. Improved latency, higher network capacity and the elimination of low coverage means faster, more accurate insights. This, in turn, leads to better performance, smoother transportation and traffic flow, and fewer accidents.
car
Self-driving cars are among the most complex edge devices. They generate up to 5 terabytes of data per hour and must be processed immediately on board, with only a portion of the data being sent to data centers for further analysis and algorithm improvement.
Let’s take a closer look at the solutions edge computing and 5G technology have made possible.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). With edge and 5G technologies, ADAS has found a new place in the market. By using built-in vehicle sensors with powerful edge computing systems and 5G’s ultra-high speeds, more sensor data can be analyzed with less redundancy, all at up to ten times faster than 4G.
Reckless driving monitoring. Collecting data from the vehicle’s accelerometer and gyroscope and calculating it locally at high speed can improve driving safety. On-site analysis allows the system to send the alerts needed to maintain safe driving standards. Additionally, data is monitored at a high sampling rate to detect any sudden acceleration, momentary braking, car crashes or the need for airbag activation.
Vehicle health monitoring. On-board diagnostic tools, sensors and interfaces help detect real-time issues and generate appropriate alerts for drivers. Thanks to edge computing technology, continuous monitoring is possible. The system can predict any risks or failures before actual damage occurs.
medical insurance
Healthcare generates vast amounts of data, and 2020 saw the industry make breakthroughs in digital transformation. The availability of critical real-time data analytics can literally mean the difference between life and death, but analyzing this data in the cloud or in a central data center comes with a number of risks—including bandwidth congestion, data transfer speeds, network reliability, and latency—that can Can negatively impact medical outcomes. To address these challenges, healthcare organizations are adopting 5G and edge computing.
Telemedicine: IoT, 5G and edge computing make telemedicine and remote patient monitoring more accessible than ever. Connected medical devices can collect real-time patient health parameters, including body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and electrocardiogram readings. The sensitive data generated by these devices requires rapid analysis and instant decision-making.
With 5G-based mobile edge computing, patient health-related data can be analyzed quickly and accurately while maintaining data privacy. The network then records the patient’s health status, provides disease analysis to doctors and patients, and provides aids in patient treatment. Using this data, healthcare providers can assess a patient’s condition and provide immediate feedback on the patient’s health.
Diagnostics: Reliable, secure networks with sufficient bandwidth are critical for rapid diagnosis, from imaging and radiology to data analysis and patient information. With high-speed services, images and patient files can be stored on edge networks with ample bandwidth, higher data transfer speeds and lower latency, all without delaying file uploads.
The business value of 5G and edge computing
The combination of 5G and edge computing, with its improved bandwidth and latency, takes “anytime, anywhere” communications from theory to reality. By using 5G and edge computing in IoT deployments, companies can:
Act on data insights in near real-time and eliminate intolerable application latency
Receive real-time information about production and adjust settings to optimize efficiency
Develop and test new markets by scaling computing power at the edge or in the 5G-connected cloud
Provide a seamless customer experience and unlock new services
Optimize business performance, improve operational efficiency, and increase revenue
In addition to the above, this digital mix opens the door for more innovative solutions to enter the market.
Trefwoorden: edge computing gateway
