How 5G and Edge Tech Are Reshaping Manufacturing IT
The advent of fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology is poised to redefine the manufacturing industry by enhancing speed and connectivity across devices, from industrial machinery to IoT sensors.
For manufacturing executives, the critical aspect of 5G transcends its ability to facilitate faster downloads.
As highlighted on DataCentre Magazine, the significance of 5G lies in its capacity to revolutionise architectural frameworks.
This involves transitioning away from entirely centralised systems towards a distributed, intelligent, and application-aware digital infrastructure.
The reduced latency and increased connectivity promise to foster a more integrated relationship between manufacturing networks and data centres, reshaping the digital ecosystem from its core to its expanding edge.
Decentralisation and its impact on infrastructure
Traditionally, the manufacturing industry's growth has been tied to large, centralised data centres offering cloud computing at scale.
However, with 5G, there is the opportunity to enhance this model by incorporating a crucial infrastructure tier propelled by 5G and edge computing.
The interplay of 5G and edge computing
5G's potential to bring network latency down to as little as 1 millisecond presents new possibilities for real-time applications essential in manufacturing environments.
Despite this, the physical constraints of data traversal highlight the necessity for data processing and storage to be closer to data origination points, a driving force behind edge computing.
This creates what is known as a 'symbiotic relationship' between 5G and edge computing. 5G delivers reliable, low-latency wireless communication to connect devices with local edge processing units.
These edge data centres, in turn, handle real-time data filtering and analysis, relaying only essential information back to the core cloud infrastructure.
Thus, edge computing catalyses new business opportunities for manufacturers seeking to innovate and capitalise on 5G investments.
According to Fotis Karonis, former Group Leader of 5G and Edge Computing at Capgemini, navigating this transformation is an iterative process that relies on collaboration.
“Industrial 5G is a key catalyst in unlocking the potential of intelligent industry and accelerating data-driven digital transformation,” says Fotis.
“An element of iteration is required, but organisations should seek to leverage the 5G ecosystem to jointly test solutions and progress with full-scale 5G adoption, fine-tuning the approach as the ecosystem evolves.”
Embracing a multi-tiered architecture
5G and edge computing are decentralising digital infrastructure, leading to a tiered structure encompassing traditional large-scale core data centres along with emerging far-edge facilities placed near cell towers and industrial sites.
The role of these core centres remains, focusing on extensive, non-time-sensitive tasks such as AI model training, data archiving, and batch processing of production data.
Conversely, the edge tier comprising micro data centres and modular units handles real-time data processing, AI inference, and localised decisions.
Forecasts indicate that the edge data centre market might exceed US$109bn by 2034, driven by 5G and IoT solutions.
“It’s like a layer cake of incremental demand that started years ago and keeps going,” says Andrew. “We’re still seeing a roll out of 5G networks and then there will be 6G. Cloud computing is still scaling and we’re just beginning to see the tip of the iceberg of AI.”
The evolution towards a multi-tiered architecture is vital for aligning with strategic objectives, ensuring the cohesive integration of emerging technologies and reinforcing operational efficiency within the manufacturing sector.
As Justin Dustzadeh, CTO at Equinix, highlights, creating real-world environments for development and testing is crucial for accelerating innovation.
“As companies develop new 5G technologies and services, they need a real-world environment to test and bring their concepts to life,” explains Justin. “With Equinix’s rich ecosystem of service providers, partners and clouds, the 5G and Edge Technology Development Center is an ideal place to fully test their concepts in a real way, enabling them to bring new capabilities to market, accelerate adoption and deliver new revenue streams faster.”
