How the convergence of Edge and 5G can transform entire industries

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), the internet of things (IoT), blockchain, edge computing and 5G are leading the long list of ubiquitous tech trends. Although each technology promises to transform the business landscape, the art of the possible becomes much clearer as these technologies begin to converge and create new opportunities.

When thinking about the benefits of 5G, many consumers will automatically think about seamlessly streaming 4k and even 360-degree videos. It promises speeds that are 20 times faster than 4G and 120 times less latency. Many believe that it could also help usher in a new world of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) ​experiences. But if we dare to step away from the hype, there is a much bigger picture.

In the past, the evolution and adoption of 3G and 4G were driven by consumer demand. This time around, things are very different. Behind the hype and clickbait headlines, 5G offers much more than just faster download speeds for smartphones. As emerging technologies begin to converge, enterprises will be driving the next evolution rather than consumers with foldable smartphones.

As businesses increasingly rely on emerging technologies, it's time to think beyond consumer tech and solve real-world problems with a new set of digital tools. As every business leader explores how they can deliver high performance, low latency, and delight their customers with innovation, it feels like the stage is perfectly set for converging technologies to prove they are underhyped, rather than overhyped.

Real-time insights from low latency applications

Traditionally, corporate networks adopted a centralized approach to managing company data. The cloud has undoubtedly revolutionized how developers build and deploy applications. But when we pushed these apps beyond the infrastructure to every device; the constraints of existing cloud and network solutions resulted in latencies, leading to sluggish performance and poor end-user experience.

The multi-edge cloud (MEC) aims to solve this problem by bringing the cloud closer to where you need it. When combined with micro data centers located by 5G network towers, it opens a whole new world of opportunities.

The convergence of 5G wireless networking and edge computing could quickly transform enterprise applications by removing traditional pain points.

Increased speeds and much lower latency will reduce lag time and move data in what was once unimaginable. It will also remove the pain of sluggish enterprise applications in the cloud as apps begin to respond instantly to queries. Bringing computing and data storage closer to devices will provide faster speeds and make near-real-time data decision-making a reality. But are enterprises ready to embrace the next digital frontier and 5G edge route paved by MEC?

The next digital frontier

Businesses are already thinking and working differently than they did 12 months ago. The convergence of 5G, edge computing, and other emerging technologies such as IoT will once again transform how we collaborate, work, and how entire industries operate. Workplaces have come a long way in a short amount of time, but a journey of continuous improvement is the only way to keep moving forward.

Last year, businesses were challenged with ensuring that employees could work from home at scale. As we head to a more hybrid approach to working, there are a new set of challenges on the horizon. Boardrooms are no longer talking about how they can ensure staff can work from anywhere and on any device. The focus has shifted to improving these experiences and making working from home or the office seamless.

Software applications are destined for greater things after outgrowing the traditional cloud computing architecture used over the last decade. Emerging technologies are helping bring the dream of a distributed architecture to life.

As we race towards a data-driven future, the convergence of 5G and edge computing is placing computing power alongside where the data is generated.

Businesses that are bravely attempting to navigate uncharted digital waters are beginning to reimagine how their products and services are designed and developed. New applications capable of sending huge amounts of data to a vast number of simultaneous users regardless of their location could unlock opportunities that drive new business revenues and gain a competitive advantage.

The traditional centralized approach in business is being replaced by something more flexible. In our data-driven future, IoT sensors will be continuously capturing valuable data. AI and machine learning will be able to deliver contextually rich, real-time data that is stored securely on blockchains.

The time has come to think bigger than using 5G speeds to stream 4K movies on Netflix. As the road ahead becomes clearer, a collective realization will give business leaders the confidence to experiment with new ways of working. The convergence of edge computing, 5G, and other emerging technologies will help build a mobile and intelligent gigabit society that will better serve employees, consumers, and the global community.