Verizon opens shop for private mobile edge compute with AWS Outposts

Verizon’s private mobile edge compute offering with AWS Outposts is available for enterprise customers in the US, offering a cloud computing platform that brings compute and storage services to the edge of the network on the customer premises.

AWS and Verizon first partnered in 2019 to deliver 5G connectivity to business applications running on AWS, and the new managed service offering was first announced in April 2021.

It is designed to offer US enterprise customers private mobile edge computing – or multi-access edge computing (MEC) – with a dedicated infrastructure on-premise that enables ultra-low latency, higher levels of security and deeper customisation.

The partners guarantee that their combined solution supports the massive bandwidth and low latency needed to support real-time enterprise applications such as intelligent logistics, factory automation and robotics.

They add that with Verizon’s On Site 5G and private edge platform, enterprises also gain operational efficiencies, higher levels of security and reliability, and improved productivity, and that On Site 5G and 5G Edge with AWS Outposts gives manufacturers in particular the near real-time responsiveness that enables applications such as predictive maintenance and robotics for improved productivity and quality. Moreover, they stress that enterprises in many industries can benefit from having a completely dedicated private network and edge compute infrastructure on premise.

“By bringing compute and storage services to the edge of the network on the customer premises, we’re providing enterprises with the low lag and high bandwidth needed to process information in near real-time so they can gain actionable data-driven insights and optimise their operations,” said Verizon Business CEO Tami Erwin, commenting on the launch.

“Through our partnership with AWS, we are helping customers unlock the true potential of 5G and edge computing, which together will enable innovative applications involving computer vision, augmented and virtual reality, and machine learning. We are just scraping the surface of the new experiences that will be enabled by having 5G and edge compute onsite.”

As they announced that their product was now available, Verizon and AWS also revealed a number of early adopters of their services, such as Corning Incorporated.

The leading materials science and advanced manufacturing innovator is using Verizon 5G Edge with AWS Outposts and On Site 5G to enhance innovation at one of the world’s largest fibre-optic cable plants. Corning and Verizon are currently experimenting with high-speed, high-volume data collection on the factory floor, quality assurance and on-premise inference using machine learning.

“At Corning, we believe 5G will revolutionise the way people and companies interact with technology, and we’re excited to advance these developments in our own plant, where we manufacture the optical cable needed to support the networks,” said Michael A. Bell, senior vice-president and general manager at Corning Optical Communications.

“Leveraging Verizon 5G Edge with AWS Outposts, we can improve safety, precision and efficiency as we explore the potential of 5G and private mobile edge computing.”