Cellnex, Lenovo, NearbyComp launch new Edge Computing solutions to support MNOs to develop and improve 5G networks

Barcelona, June 11, 2020 – Cellnex Telecom, Lenovo, and Nearby Computing have launched Edge Computing solutions based on Intel technology to address the increasing challenges on telecommunication networks around bandwidth and latency requirements.

Today, companies are willing to deliver a new generation of advanced solutions and applications like high quality video, processing data from multiple connected devices or vehicles. Edge Computing can help address this increasing demand, by enabling the services to run near the users instead of using remote data centres. This new paradigm allows the users to enjoy the benefits of bringing computation services to the Cloud, but keeping this Cloud “near” the data being created.

Management of Edge Computing nodes is one of today’s biggest opportunities for telecommunications operators and large corporations or public entities. Bringing the network capabilities to the Edge cannot be done without tightly controlled deployment and maintenance costs.

This joint innovative solution by Cellnex, Lenovo and Nearby Computing is designed to support Mobile Network Operators to improve performance while allowing significant savings in their networks and enabling new revenue streams. These objectives can be simultaneously achieved driving substantial parts of the existing and future data traffic to the network edge. In that way, the existing networks can reduce the expected traffic load improving the total performance and optimizing the backhauling costs.

The companies worked closely with Intel to architect this converged edge solution in a modular and flexible way. In order to converge workloads on a single platform they have leveraged the Intel Distribution of OpenVINO Toolkit for AI inferencing and are planning to incorporate OpenNESS for networking workloads in the future. With this modular approach, Cellnex’s solution can be customized and optimized for location specific demands across the Edge, achieving scalability and lowering TCO. It can be deployed covering wide or smaller areas with targeted use cases.

“This Edge Computing solution is designed to help mobile operators lower their TCO, while supporting exciting new visual use cases for different vertical segments. As a scalable and modular solution, it can cover many different scenarios, from dedicated on premise deployments, to distributed Telco edge services for consumer market”, said Óscar Pallarols, Global Commercial Director at Cellnex.

 “As the need for Edge computing grows, especially in telecommunications applications, customers will require more innovative, and modular edge solutions capable of scaling growing business needs,” said Charles Ferland, Lenovo’s Vice President and General Manager of Telco and Networking. “Lenovo’s collaboration with Cellnex and Intel is important in helping the industry adopt edge infrastructure applications. The Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 and ThinkSystem SE350, combined with Lenovo’s Open Cloud Automation (LOC-A) software solution, provides customers with a simple and automated way to deploy Edge computing solutions that can enable customers on their complex journey to manage more data at the Edge.”

“Edge Computing needed a different approach and new tools specifically designed to solve its inherent challenges. The joint solution that is presented today delivers a unique response by seamlessly combining market-leading Edge-native products”, said Josep Martí, CEO at Nearby Computing.

“Using a scalable, modular approach to deploy these converged edge platforms accelerates development of edge compute solutions. The collaboration with Cellnex, Lenovo and Nearby Computing showcases the value of ecosystem collaboration to more quickly deliver new and innovative edge use cases” said Renu Navale, Vice President, Data Platforms Group and General Manager, Edge Computing and Ecosystem Enabling at Intel.

Technical pillars of this new Edge Computing solution

This joint solution is based on the Lenovo ThinkSystem family of offerings, whose Edge servers bring improved processing, storage, and communication capabilities to where data is generated, allowing a faster execution of actions.

Among the ThinkSystem family, the SE350 is the first in a range of servers specifically tailored to the Edge environment. Compact in size, it is adapted to be deployed in environments outside of the data centre, and has extensive capabilities to simplify its local and remote management while being highly secure.

Thanks to NearbyOne, the Edge-specific orchestration tool developed by Nearby Computing, the operating costs per node are significantly reduced, being able to manage even hybrid networks at scale. In addition, exhaustive deployment automation and application lifecycle management services can be created, as well as powerful service chains that deliver true added value to customers.

Cellnex, has confirmed that the deployed solution is optimal in terms of design and operation, and is ready to act as Neutral Host with a turnkey solution suitable to be deployed on Cellnex sites, to enable an effective and accelerated adoption of the Edge Cloud Computing with a significant saving on the total cost of ownership. The Company is working closely with Lenovo, Nearby Computing, Intel and other partners to deploy a smart edge platform in different scenarios.

Some of these Edge Cloud Computing solutions have been implemented in Barcelona to develop different use cases such as Enterprise Edge, focused on enterprise customers or music & sports events, or Green Edge, based on a Zero Emissions Rural Site, which enables solutions for Smart Cities or future Mobility Services while improving network performance in rural areas.