Welcome to the Netrality News Roundup!
We’ve selected key articles on the latest news, developments, innovations and revelations in the colocation data center industry.
Don’t miss our bi-weekly news roundups to learn what’s going on with colocation, edge computing, and the brave new world of hybrid cloud, 5G, IoT, artificial intelligence, smart cities, virtual reality, and other technologies at the edge!
Where Are Edge Computing Investments Going?
May 19, 2020
Data Economy
STL Partner has analyzed investments across the edge value chain to determine how mature the market is. They see five main pools of capital flowing into edge computing:
- Earlier stage and higher risk – VCs and private equity (PE);
- Later stage and lower risk infrastructure funds;
- Public cloud providers looking to exploit the assets of telecoms operators (and others);
- Tech companies carving out a role in edge computing as a new opportunity or to support their existing business;
- Telecoms operators themselves looking to build positions beyond basic infrastructure
STL Partner expects edge computing investments to keep growing, with larger volumes of later-stage capital kicking in in 2021-2022. This revealing study shows where these investments are going, and why this is only the beginning of the coming age of edge technology.
Schneider Electric Launches Monitoring, Dispatch Services for Edge Computing Sites
May 21, 2020
Larry Dignan, ZDNet
“Schneider Electric is launching monitoring and dispatch services to manage edge computing sites and remediate problems on-site. With Monitoring & Dispatch Services, Schneider Electric is using the playbook from industrial giants. For instance, companies that sell airline engines, turbines and other capital-intensive equipment often offer services to repair that infrastructure.”
Schneider Electric has been betting on the proliferation and normalization of edge computing for some time, and this move further illustrates the company’s sharp foresight. Schneider is wisely betting that remote monitoring, troubleshooting and onsite remediation for edge computer sites will be a growing market.
T-Mobile, Intel, NASA Unveil 5G Open Innovation Lab in Seattle to Help Startups Tap Potential of 5G
May 19, 2020
Taylor Soper, GeekWire
“A new program led by T-Mobile, Intel, and NASA aims to help entrepreneurs take advantage of 5G technology.
“‘We wanted to design a program that allows startups to explore what it means to build in a 5G world, and work alongside partners to experiment, prototype, and learn,’” said 5G OI Lab founder Jim Brisimitzis, who previously founded the Microsoft for Startups program during a 13-year career at the tech giant.”
Accelerators and incubators are being spun up to find new creative ways to leverage 5G technology. Cross-collaboration between industries, government and academia are also converging to prepare for a 5G-enabled future. Just as Uber and Snapchat couldn’t have flourished before 4G, a myriad of game-changing technologies will be enabled by 5G, like driverless cars, smart cities, and game-changing advances in telehealth, telework, and remote learning.
Comcast Has Increased its X1 Cloud DVR Storage to 150 Hours
June 6, 2020
Tmera Hepburn, Cord Cutters News
Comcast has increased its X1 Cloud DVR storage from 60 hours to 150 hours for users with Xfinity X1. At no extra charge, users can now stream 150hrs of DVR content on smartphones, tablets, web browsers, and Roku players. This capacity increase is on a per-X1 box basis, so if a household has multiple X1 DVR boxes, each device will increase in streaming capacity.
The pandemic has made remote data center management tools essential for colocation providers to continue serving their clients. Comcast reported a 212 percent increase in voice and video conferencing traffic and a 40 percent increase in VPN traffic. Overall, peak traffic on Comcast’s network is up 32 percent around the country, with some areas seeing 60 percent increases.
IBM Looks to Drive Edge Computing
May 5, 2020
Mike Vizardo, DevOps
“At its recent Think Digital conference, IBM launched an edge computing initiative anchored around an IBM Edge Application Manager, through which a single administrator can manage up to 10,000 nodes.
“IBM is making available a range of edge-enabled applications…Managing thousands of edge computing platforms will require not just higher levels of IT automation infused with machine learning algorithms, but IT teams will also need to be able to deploy, secure, update and manage applications distributed across thousands of endpoints.”
Having edge technology is one thing. Managing it at scale will be a considerable challenge as the technology continues to grow and replace so many traditional centralized data centers. Major tech players like IBM are not only investing in edge technology itself, but on the infrastructure and processes that will be required to maintain edge computing on a vast scale, much like the cloud a decade ago.
