ETSI releases a Report to enable MEC deployment in a multi-operator’s environment

Sophia Antipolis, 20 July 2021

The ETSI MEC Industry Specification Group (ETSI ISG MEC) has just released a new Group Report ETSI GR MEC 0035 to enable inter-MEC system deployment and MEC-Cloud system coordination. This Report was motivated by the mobile network operators’ interest in forming federated MEC environments and enabling information exchange in a secure manner, in the event that MEC platforms or applications belong to different MEC systems.

“As MEC deployments gain momentum, inter-MEC system communication is an imperative requirement in today's as well as the future's edge computing industry and ecosystem. A federated model of MEC systems enables shared usage of MEC services and applications,” notes Dario Sabella, Chair of the ETSI ISG MEC. “However, to unlock the full potential of federated MEC environments, an effective and well-defined signalling framework among MEC system entities is needed, both at system level and at host level. The GR MEC 0035 studies this framework for the first time. Subsequently, thorough normative work may require further alignment with other standard bodies according to GSMA Operator Platform Group requirements, to avoid duplication,” he adds.

ETSI GR MEC 0035 analyses eight use cases that require inter-system coordination, including those in multi-mobile network operators’ (MNOs) environments. Recommendations, evaluations and possible technical solutions to solve key issues are issued for each use case.

Two use cases make recommendations to achieve V2X service continuity considering a typical MEC federation scenario of V2X services, in a MEC-system environment with multiple operators and multiple equipment manufacturers.

Another use case describes a location-based immersive Augmented Reality game where a MEC federation can serve as a solution to limitations in providing an interactive AR application with users connected via different mobile operators.

Additional use cases include:

  • an application instance transfer between MEC and Cloud systems
  • inter-system communication involving a MEC system within an MNO's network
  • a MEC federation scenario for connecting different services
  • a MEC federation scenario for Edge Service availability on visited (another’s operator) networks
  • a MEC federation scenario for edge-node sharing

Download the full Report by following this link: ETSI GR MEC 0035

New at ETSI MEC ISG

This new Report is the first of the group’s Phase 3 period. This phase will focus on MEC as heterogeneous clouds, work on MEC security enhancements, expand traditional cloud and NFV Life Cycle Management (LCM) approaches, and study mobile or intermittently connected components and consumer-owned cloud resources.

The ISG has recently strengthened its leadership with Ms Jane Shen, Mavenir, as a Technical Expert in charge of Open Source engagements and Mr Debashish Purkayastha, InterDigital, as a Vice Chair of the MEC DECODE working group. In addition, a newly established MEC Support Team will drive the evaluation and maintenance of PoCs and MEC Trial efforts of the steadily growing number (currently 118) member organizations comprising the ETSI MEC ISG.

Discover the MEC Leaders and Support Team at this link: https://portal.etsi.org/TB-SiteMap/MEC/MEC-leaders-and-support-team

Got two minutes? Watch our new entertaining ETSI MEC video “MEC – Close to the user, at the EDGE!”

About ETSI

ETSI provides members with an open and inclusive environment to support the development, ratification and testing of globally applicable standards for ICT systems and services across all sectors of industry and society.  We are a not-for-profit body with more than 950 member organizations worldwide, drawn from 64 countries and five continents. Members comprise a diversified pool of large and small private companies, research entities, academia, government and public organizations. ETSI is officially recognized by the EU as a European Standards Organization (ESO). For more information please visit us at https://www.etsi.org/.

Contact

Claire Boyer
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Email: claire.boyer@etsi.org