Half a decade ago, the coming 5G network was viewed as a possible way for mobile operators to become relevant in multi-access edge computing. In the early days of actual edge computing deployment, it appears hyperscale computing as a service giants already are poised to lead.
Value for mobile operators will come in indirect ways, for the most part, rather than from direct roles as the providers of the computing functions.
Hyperscalers already seem poised to dominate edge computing. Wavelength from Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure Edge Zones from Microsoft and Anthos for Telecom from Google Cloud appear to be the way connectivity service providers will make edge computing services available on their networks, eschewing becoming edge computing suppliers in their own right.
The upside from multi-access edge computing therefore will come indirectly, in the form of account additions, churn reduction, some real estate revenue and support for mobile operator core network operations, as well as marketing.
Much of the value might come as connectivity providers pitch their networks as better able to support low-latency applications, private networks or internet of things.
Beyond the obvious explanation that the hyperscalers have such scale advantages mobile operators could not hope to overcome, ease of deployment and time to market seem key advantages.
In the end, edge computing “as a service” remains a computing competency the hyperscalers dominate. They are the likely winners, for that reason, as computing continues to move to the edge.
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