Edge computing is a distributed, open IT architecture focused on bringing computing as close to the source of data as possible with the aim of reducing latency and bandwidth use. The adoption of 5G technology will push the use of edge computing and will generate patterns of data flow that differ from today’s reliance on centralized cloud computing.
5G reduces the physical distance
The edge computing market is growing at an annual rate of 12.5 percent and is expected to reach $250 billion by 2024, according to IDC. MarketsandMarket’s Edge Computing Market by Component, Application, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region, Global Forecast to 2025 report also shows that the global edge computing market to grow from USD 3.6 billion in 2020 to USD 15.7 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34.1% during the forecast period.
Dave McCarthy, research director at IDC commented this rise, saying,
“By itself, 5G reduces the network latency between the mobile tower and the endpoint, but it does not advocate the distance to a data center, which can create troubles for latency-sensitive applications. By deploying edge computing into the 5G network, it reduces this physical distance, greatly improving response time. This makes edge computing pivotal for the rollout of new mobile edge computing (MEC) services and 5G networks.”