Why Moving to the Edge Brings Us All Closer Together

As we move forward into the second half of our fiscal year, I remain optimistic about the road ahead even during these uncertain times. The breakthroughs we have seen in the lightning fast creation of vaccines and their distribution truly illustrates the power of technology and it’s ability to transform nearly any situation.  And while it’s easy to get swept up in hype and buzzwords on emerging technologies, there is one topic – The Virtualized Network Edge – that has me particularly excited.  Not just from a technology bits-and-bytes aspect, but for the promise of all it can provide to businesses and consumers as well.

Edge computing and the associated edge networks have certainly had their fair share of attention as “the next big thing,” only to be relegated to a handful of examples like the autonomous vehicle. While self-driving cars may get the headlines and may be an exciting future product of edge computing, I’m especially intrigued by several less-publicized applications that are already making use of edge networks and technology to create true connection and positive business impact, including lower OPEX costs and less network downtime.

In manufacturing, edge computing enables multiple use cases, and allows manufacturers to aggregate the massive amount of data coming from sensors, robots, and other equipment and use that data to make real-time quality and productivity decisions. The opportunity for robotics and robotic applications is massive, not only for reducing tedious or repetitive tasks. Edge computing will significantly lower the cost of robotic platforms, by moving the compute costs of the devices out to the edge where it can be shared, in a way that will dramatically drive down the individual costs of those devices. However, the deployment of these robots isn’t without challenges: staggering amounts of data and ultra-low latency requirements mean that legacy networks will not be up to the task.

Here is where the promise and excitement come in: the evolution of a virtualized edge will deliver a distributed computing solution that finally gives us the performance, flexibility, and security that have made so many of us shy away from these types of architectures in the past. All the elements to deliver a virtual edge now exist to support the applications that they many organizations require before moving to this type of solution. Add automation into this architecture and we will see advances in the speed and scope of new applications and services. For example, companies already automate routine general accounting tasks like payroll and invoicing with technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA). On the other end of the spectrum, Gartner research estimates up to 60% of a company’s earnings call is made up of Q&A. Finance “robots” can immediately analyze the sentiment in these calls, flag less-than-truthful statements, and ultimately draw conclusions that can help analysts make better decisions regarding the company’s health.

Now, more than ever, organizations need to get the most out of their resources. As the competitive landscape heats up, and as we pull through the residual effects of COVID-19 shutdowns/slowdowns, companies can’t afford lag time. Virtualized Edge Networks will enable organizational efficiency and improve productivity. We all need to connect to customers and partners, keep employee morale high, and ensure employees can do their jobs efficiently. McKinsey made a bold and poignant prediction that resonates with many of us: companies with superior organizational speed are most likely to succeed in the post-pandemic world.

Moving compute and applications to the edge is also enabling possibilities forged in the world of medicine. Wearable devices and sensors can instantly transmit data such as insulin levels or cardiac function, alerting providers to discrepancies in real-time. Ambulances can transmit patient data in route to the ER so that, when they dock in the ambulance bay, the patient receives immediate treatment – and, in some cases, lives are saved. A virtualized edge allows this information to be delivered at the point of care in a time frame that can change the outcomes of care. I can’t imagine a better and more promising use of a virtualized edge and edge computing technologies.

The edge also has the power to lower the cost of mobile devices so we can bridge the digital divide, and everyone can participate in the digital age. New smartphones and mobile devices continue to rise in price, making them readily accessible for fewer and fewer people, and a main contributor to that cost is storage and onboard computing power. But if we’re able to reduce the computing needs or move that processing power to the edge, the cost of these devices will drop dramatically. This would usher in a host of benefits, not the least of which are accessibility and affordability for all users, anywhere in the world, along with an acceleration in application development and usage we have yet to empower.

A real-life example of this model is being enabled in many schools and classrooms today. Low-cost, thin client end-user devices have made it easier to deploy technology in school districts for remote learning. By moving the intelligence and applications to the edge, the cost for these devices plummets and opens access to learning applications that wasn’t possible just five years ago. Edge computing has made the mainframe model cool again! [Wow, you’re dating yourself jokes here.]

At Ciena we are going beyond simply selling hardware and software to support the vision of a Virtual Edge and where its potential can take us. We are supporting the promise of network architectures like this by continuing to "Go Do Good" and finding ways to serve, improve, and contribute to communities we live in while supporting the virtual edge applications in real-life scenarios in our public schools. As part of our Digital Inclusion Commitment, we recently announced our support of the Verizon Innovative Learning program, where we’ll be donating much-needed devices and security software to two Title I schools. We’re also grateful for the opportunity to volunteer in those schools to expose students to STEM careers and emerging technologies.

The examples above are merely a few in a sea of possibilities for what a virtual edge can deliver. In my experience, the “bigger picture” always trumps individual technologies. Where can connections be made? What value will those connections and advancements bring to our businesses, communities, and society as a whole? And given all the benefits and use cases for edge computing, edge networks, and edge devices, how should we think differently about network architectures to enable it?

If this challenging year has taught us anything, it’s that those who are poised for and embrace change will be the ones who thrive. Now is the time to shed the fear associated with something new and leverage the incredible opportunity we have to reposition our networks to capitalize on the network edge and the possibilities it will enable in the future. We must all be willing to shift our paradigm, and to remain agile enough to ensure that the technologies we build will fuel innovation—and a virtualized edge will be the launchpad for that very growth, well into 2021 and beyond.