What is Mobile Edge Computing | benefits of Mobile Edge Computing

This page mentions basics of Mobile Edge Computing (MEC). It also mentions advantages or benefits of Mobile Edge Computing.

• Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is the term which refers to IT services offered to application developers/content providers at the edge of the wireless telecom network. MEC offers high bandwidth, low latency and realtime access to radio network. These MEC services are utilized by applications.
• The purpose of MEC is to unite both telecom and IT worlds. This will make successful convergence of telecom networking and IT.
• MEC provides IT and cloud computing capabilities in the mobile radio access network (RAN), hence the name mobile edge computing.
• The applications and services are developed and integrated above the layer-3 (i.e. network layer) of mobile NEs (Network elements).

Mobile Edge Computing

The figure depicts the integration of MEC applications and services in the LTE system architecture. As shown it is implemented between eNodeB and Mobile Core with the help of MEC server. Moreover cloud services are interfaced seamlessly with mobile core as shown. Hence there will not be any changes to lower layers (PHY, MAC) of UE and eNodeB network elements.

There are many use cased of mobile edge computing which includes active device location tracking, internet of things (IoT), video analytics, augmented reality content delivery, data caching, efficient local content distribution etc.

Benefits of Mobile Edge Computing | Advantages of Mobile Edge Computing

Following are the benefits or advantages of mobile edge computing:
➨The MEC is developed to benefit all the entities which include operators, software vendors, equipment providers, system integrators, IT platform providers, application developers, technology providers etc.
➨By deploying services and providing data caching at the mobile network edge, mobile core networks will be alleviated from problems of congestion. This will help in serving local services efficiently.
➨MEC part can be run in isolation from the rest of the network while still having access to local resources; it can be utilized in M2M scenarios requiring safety or security compliant highly resilient systems.
➨As MEC system is very close to information storage, it can be useful for big data and analytics use.
➨As services run very close to end devices, it delivers low latency. This enables fast response which helps minimize congestion as well as provide great user experience.
➨As network edge is part of larger wireless network including wifi as well as cellular mobile networks, it helps in determining location of all the wireless connected devices.
➨The availability of real time network informations such as radio network conditions, network statistics will help in developing applications/services for monetization. This will help in connecting subscribers/users with various businesses, events and with locations to their desired interest needs.
➨Edge computing concept can be applied in indoor scenarios as well as outdoor scenarios.

Industry Specification Group(ISG) of ETSI is looking after development of MEC (Mobile Edge Computing) specifications including many other wireless standards such as GSM, UMTS and LTE.
For more information refer www.etsi.org.

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