Without edge, 5G is a difficult story to tell

5G technology delivers speeds 100 times faster than its predecessor, unparalleled capacity, and ultra-low latency – meaning its possibilities are almost endless.

Going forward, 5G will be the driving force behind everything from autonomous vehicles to remote medical procedures and will improve our lives in ways we can only imagine.

However, to truly take advantage of 5G's incredible capabilities, we're going to need a new approach to computing. And that's where edge comes in.

A balancing act

Traditional cloud computing models send data to remote servers for processing, storage, and analysis. But the high speeds and low latency of 5G have seen a massive increase in the amount of data we generate – and now those remote servers are struggling to keep up.

This is a problem, especially for time-sensitive applications such as traffic management tools and smart production lines, which rely on real-time analytics to function efficiently.

Edge computing solves that problem by bringing data processing closer to the source. With edge servers positioned in our homes, streets, and factories, we can process data at the network edge – speeding up response times and maximizing the potential of 5G technology.

The next frontier

At Dell Technologies OEM Solutions , we've been exploring how this approach can help our customers to optimize 5G. Our new initiative – Project Frontier – is an ecosystem of hardware, software, and services powered by 英特尔 technology that helps people collect and analyze data on the edge – unlocking the true value of their 5G investments.

It supports in several key ways:

• Reducing the time and cost associated with cloud storage.
• Enabling personalization based on real-time customer insights.
• Analyzing data locally so information stays secure and within reach.

Whether an organization is scaling up or scaling back, Project Frontier enables ongoing efficient data management without the need for major upgrades or overhauls.

Giving Nokia the edge

Recently, Dell have teamed up with Nokia to help their customers leverage the power of edge.

These customers include airports, smart cities, and large energy companies – plus many other organizations needing to analyze real-time data to make fast decisions.

Together, we've created a new high-performance, high-capacity infrastructure platform driven by our Dell PowerEdge XR11 servers. The platform gives Nokia a simple, scalable way to help customers increase the processing power of their existing MX Industrial Edge capabilities while fully leveraging the capabilities of a 5G network.

?Airports can respond to changes in travel patterns in real time, providing a better user experience for travelers and boosting revenue. Smart cities can monitor traffic patterns, manage streetlights, and track the performance of city services. And energy companies can get accurate data on energy consumption to help them identify areas of waste so that they can implement energy-saving strategies.

Disaster relief

Alongside the business case for edge, there's also a compelling humanitarian story to tell. All too often when disaster strikes, we see relief efforts hampered by a lack of digital infrastructure.

Imagine a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake striking a region and causing widespread damage and destruction. With power grids down, phone lines out of action, and transport links disrupted, rescue teams will struggle to get real-time updates on the ground. As a result, help may not reach those who need it most.

However, by dropping edge servers into the affected area by drone or helicopter, relief organizations can quickly establish a remote, 5G-enabled data center.

These rugged servers are designed to withstand harsh environments and extreme temperatures and can process data from various sources – including weather sensors, satellite imagery, and social media feeds. And they can be powered by solar panels, batteries, or generators, making them the only reliable solution for a disaster zone.

Edging further ahead

At Dell OEM Solutions, we are passionate about how edge computing can positively impact people's lives and drive human progress. Our future-facing, long-term edge strategy is built on a foundation of comprehensive research and development – and will help our customers take advantage of the benefits of edge computing for many years to come.

Our edge applications will improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and increase safety in every sector – all while reducing the environmental impact of traditional computing methods.

What do you think should be next on our to-do list? Let me know in the comments.