Who Wins the Edge?

Nobody yet knows how big edge computing will be, or who will profit from it. Much depends on where the edge computing happens: on the device, on the premises or off-premises. And some new developments make on-premised edge computing, operating like a local area network and owned by the enterprise, more feasible than ever.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service is a platform-agnostic band of 150 MHz of wireless spectrum at 3.5 GHz frequency. Though there will undoubtedly be both fixed warrier, outdoor applications, many believe a new category of indoor wireless networks also will be enabled, allowing the creation of private enterprise networks.

These new forms of local area networks are expected to use either 4G or 5G platforms to support premises connectivity for internet of things sensor networks, obviously also having the ability to support indoors mobile phone and device coverage.

Why not use Wi-Fi or other short-range communications networks? Some argue that operating cost is relatively high. In addition, Wi-Fi is less secure than LTE, and provides coverage inferior to LTE inside buildings.

Whether these networks are operated and owned by the enterprise or a mobile network operator is among the open questions, at the moment. Enterprise-owned networks might reduce costs related to mobile network service, since all the local connections are private.

Also, some remote locations, such as mines and oil drilling sites, might not have a choice. Mobile network coverage might be limited or non-existent. On the other hand, satellite backhaul might well be feasible in such scenarios.

The point is that financial upside from edge computing is hard to quantify, except to say that server suppliers believe they win, no matter what.

Some suppliers of modular (cargo container sized facilities) edge data buildings see upside.

Some enterprises, in some industries, see themselves gaining the ability to create new types of local area networks that better support huge sensor networks, possibly at less cost than would have been required previously.

Cloud computing suppliers see a way to extend their computing infrastructure into a new and growing area of demand that might eventually represent 75 percent of enterprise computing.  

Mobile and fixed network service providers see a way to boost revenues from edge computing services of their own, added to the potential upside from mobile or fixed connectivity services.