Collaboration on edge cloud computing for 5G

5G applications will require locating compute power and capacity close to where the traffic originates, whereas application logic has traditionally resided in the data centre. However, 5G applications such as those for autonomous driving or Industrial IoT, where physical controls require extremely low latency, will demand diverse network locations for their logic. In these cases, computing will often need to happen much closer to the end device.

Charlie Ashton, Senior Director of Business Development for Telecommunications at Wind River, stated: “5G will demand ultra-low latency and dynamic compute architectures for the cloud. Wind River provides a flexible and secure cloud-based infrastructure that can be deployed at any network location. In order to successfully meet changing market needs, it is important to work with leading operators who, like BT, are uniquely positioned to deploy cloud compute at the right edge locations to support growing 5G applications.”

Maria Cuevas, Head of Mobile Core Networks Research at BT, added: “The rise of Edge Cloud Compute will require flexible cloud infrastructure and the deployment of dynamic applications wherever and whenever they are needed. BT’s network is evolving to meet these demands. BT is working with industry partners like Wind River to tackle the technical challenges around Edge Cloud Compute and develop solutions that meet customers’ future needs.”

Running on a BT cellular base station, the proof of concept platform features an edge cloud compute node using the Titanium Cloud virtualisation platform and a local traffic offload capability from Athonet, a software-based mobile core provider.

The proof of concept highlights multiple 5G edge cloud computing use cases, including those for next-gen connected automobiles and also for augmented/virtual reality:

• Remote vehicle control for traffic/route management
• Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication for collision avoidance
• Augmented reality for multi-person sessions without gameplay disruption

The Titanium Cloud portfolio includes a fully integrated, reliable, and deployment-ready virtualisation platform that enables service providers to deploy virtualised services faster, at lower cost, and with high uptime. Titanium Cloud provides an ideal software infrastructure for the rigorous demands of critical infrastructure applications such as telecommunications networks and industrial control.

Beyond the current proof of concept, BT works across the ecosystem with technology experts such as Athonet, Akamai, and others to advance edge cloud computing. Akamai and Athonet are also members of the Wind River Titanium Cloud Ecosystem, dedicated to delivering interoperable standard products optimised for deployment with Titanium Cloud to help accelerate time-to-market for service providers and telecom equipment manufacturers.