ETSI’s newly created Mobile-edge Computing (MEC) Industry Specification Group (ISG) kicked off its development work earlier this month with a first meeting hosted by Nokia Networks in Munich. The group is aiming to complete five documents by mid-2015: Terminology, Service Scenarios, Technical Requirements (including use cases and their benefits), a Proof of Concept Framework leading to a Framework and Reference Architecture. When the first documents get to the required maturity level, work on platform services, APIs and interfaces will commence.
Mobile-edge Computing provides IT and cloud-computing capabilities within the Radio Access Network (RAN) in close proximity to mobile subscribers. Located at the base station or at the Radio Network Controller, it also provides access to real-time radio and network information such as subscriber location or cell load that can be exploited by applications and services to offer context-related services.
For application developers and content providers, the RAN edge offers a service environment characterized by proximity, ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth, as well as real-time access to radio network information and location awareness. Mobile-edge Computing allows content, services and applications to be accelerated, maintaining a customer’s experience across different radio and network conditions.
So far, the MEC ISG has attracted 24 member and participant organizations, including network operators, vendors, technology suppliers and content delivery network (CDN) providers.
