Developing scalable 5G services at the edge through unified resource management and new service operations
Developing scalable 5G services at the edge through unified resource management and new service operations
By 2021, China Mobile had built about 1,000 sets of MEC devices and will add another 700 in 2022. Already its 5G edge network is the largest in the world. Unified resource management and service operation methods are lacking, however, so China Mobile Zhejiang cooperated with Huawei to enable enterprise customers to implement digital transformation based on ICT convergence. They are working to promote the sustainable, highly scalable development of 5G services, looking at ways to break down professional barriers and try out technical architectures and application scenarios, in phased steps.
“5G and edge computing are key technologies to accelerate enterprise digital transformation. China Mobile applies TM Forum and ETSI APIs to the Network Edge Cloud Integrated Management. The platform provides one-stop provisioning of the 5G edge network and edge cloud services and launches 30 kinds of scenario-based network products that quickly adapt to the network SLA requirements of enterprise applications, such as video backhaul, programmable logic controller, and automated guided vehicles. This improves the efficiency of an enterprise‘s operation and its customers’ experience,” says Tong Hailan, Senior Director of 5G ToB, China Mobile Zhejiang Branch.
Unified service management
The companies developed a platform drawing on TM Forum’s Business Process, Application and Information Frameworks to define its automated processes for MEC and network services. The platform’s unified interface adaptation layer shields the users from difference between devices from different vendors, implement access of all MEC devices in Zhejiang province centrally, and centrally manages computing and network resources.
The service layer is based on microservices which allows independent upgrades and faster iterations. 5G edge network services are abstracted, encapsulated, and flexibly modeled. Manual operations can be converted to an online, automated flow, making service delivery more efficient.
The platform integrates IT, cloud, and operational technologies to provide an integrated solution for more than 30 service scenarios, such as remote control of shipping in smart ports, defects in the fabric in textile factors and much more.
It offers optimal cloud-network scheduling and combined provisioning for 5G networks and edge clouds. Network edge cloud resources are managed in a unified way to optimize resource utilization, reduce waste and move towards carbon neutrality and peak carbon.
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