Sophia Antipolis, 24 September 2015

ETSI has published a white paper on Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), a key emerging technology which is considered to be an important component of future generation networks, including 5G. Mobile Edge Computing is an IT service environment and cloud-computing capabilities located at the edge of the mobile network, within the Radio Access Network and in close proximity to mobile subscribers.

As telecom operators are facing new challenges with ever growing mobile traffic and continued cost pressure, there is a clear need to improve the end user quality of experience, generate revenue, and optimize network operations. The Internet of Things is predicted to further congest networks. Application and content providers are challenged with the latency of the network when connecting to the cloud. Enterprises want the ability to engage with their customers with more efficient, secure and low latency connections. Mobile Edge Computing can bring solutions to many of these issues.

This White Paper outlines how Mobile Edge Computing is characterized by low latency, proximity, high bandwidth and real-time insight into radio network information and location awareness. It provides examples of how applications such as connected vehicles, e-Health, industry automation, augmented reality, intelligent video acceleration, gaming and IoT services can each benefit from Mobile Edge Computing.

ETSI has established an Industry Specification Group on Mobile Edge Computing (ISG MEC), to develop a standardized, open environment that will allow efficient and seamless integration of third-party applications across multi-vendor platforms. The group, which started work in December 2014, is developing terminology, service scenarios, technical requirements (including use cases and their benefits) and a framework and reference architecture. When the first documents reach maturity, work on platform services, APIs and interfaces will begin.

Mrs. Nurit Sprecher of Nokia, chair of MEC ISG, commented: “I truly believe that Mobile Edge Computing technology can stimulate innovation and enable a myriad of new use cases across multiple sectors that can take the mobile broadband experience to a completely new level, bringing benefits for all stakeholders and consumers.”

The group has released its Proof of Concept (PoC) framework specification: GS MEC-IEG 005. Proofs of Concept are essential to demonstrate Mobile Edge Computing as feasible and valuable, to validate the specifications that are being developed, to reduce time to market, to demonstrate use cases, and ultimately to help develop a diverse and open MEC ecosystem.

Download the white paper from the ETSI website.

Leading contributors to the ISG MEC group, including Mrs. Sprecher, are presenting at next week’s Mobile Edge Computing Congress in London, 29-30 September 2015.

About ETSI
ETSI produces globally-applicable standards for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), including fixed, mobile, radio, aeronautical, broadcast and internet technologies and is officially recognized by the European Union as a European Standards Organization. ETSI is an independent, not-for-profit association whose more than 800 member companies and organizations, drawn from 64 countries, determine its work programme and participate directly in its work. 

Contact
Claire Boyer
Tel: +33 (0)4 92 94 43 35
Mob: +33 (0)6 87 60 84 40
Email: claire.boyer@etsi.org
www.etsi.org