Category: Articles

Data, communications and computing infrastructure are all coming together to enable intelligence at the edge so the processes, analytics, management and security are the next step, writes George Malim.

Technology enabled solutions are becoming ever more critical to the day-to-day operations of many enterprises. Among the most impactful technologies are artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and next generation communication technologies such as 5G. Edge computing may garner fewer headlines, but it is a key enabler for many solutions that utilise the emerging technologies listed above, writes Jim Morrish, a founding partner at Transforma Insights.

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) is coming together with the low latency mmWave connectivity enabled by 5G to make intelligence at the edge a reality that truly enables bi-directional digital conversations and gives the potential for technologies such as digital twins to be operated effectively. Here, Dheeraj Remella, the chief product officer of VoltDB, tells George Malim, the managing editor of VanillaPlus, how the challenges associated with MEC are being addressed and why, for many, once they’ve looked over the edge, there will be no going back to centralised, remote architectures.

5G, edge computing, digital transformation, digital twins, machine learning and AI appearing together looks like a buzzword bingo. But there is a rational connection between these topics and technologies, writes Dheeraj Remella, the chief product officer at VoltDB.

Children are warned to stay away from the edge of cliffs, bridges, roads and rivers, but in computing, the edge is turning out to be one of the safer locations for hosting processing power and analysing data. Antony Savvas explores why this is the case, while also addressing the security concerns that do exist around edge computing and assessing how these are being resolved.

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) has turned the corner from being seen as an interesting alternative to the hub and spoke architecture of cloud computing to being recognised as a vital technological enabler of low latency, connected intelligence. George Malim examines the latest analyst predictions for the technology’s increased uptake.

There are some very sensible, industrial strength cost justifications for installing multi-access edge computing (MEC) but sometimes attention can be diverted by more fanciful projections, writes Nick Booth.

Communications service providers (CSPs) have worked doggedly over the last two decades to prepare for a new, data-led mode of operation. The plumbing is now done but extracting actionable insights from data lakes and then trusting that for fundamental operational processes is the next giant step operators need to take, writes George Malim.

Communications service providers (CSP) are surrounded by challenges from all directions, writes Robin Duke-Woolley, the chief executive of Beecham Research. Their central service offering has commoditised, growth is constrained by market saturation and they have no option but to invest billions in capex in the next generation of mobile technology. Against this unappealing background, they have to deliver great experiences or customers will walk.

Communications service providers (CSPs) are now well aware of the power of the data they collect regarding their customers and see it as a key means to run their operations more efficiently, achieve compliance, improve customer experiences and ultimately enhance their profitability. The telecoms industry, however, is composed of a complex web of organisations created through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and infrastructure that involves multiple generations of technology. This makes the process of enabling data-driven decision making multi-layered and encompasses cultural as well as technological challenges.

A large communications service provider (CSP) that serves more than 50 million individual, business and government subscribers was faced with the challenge of optimising its customer acquisition policies by offering new customers equipment and service packages tailored to each individual’s credit risk. This is a critical new battleground for telecoms operators as markets exceed saturation and the fight to attract new customers centres on making attractive, tailored propositions.

All businesses are the products of courageous decisions but decision makers at communication service providers (CSPs) are very brave indeed, writes Nick Booth.