1 © Nokia 2017

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC)

Satish Kanugovi

SCF Summit, October, 2017

2 © Nokia 2017

MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing)

Getting closer to people and connected objects

The network edge environment:

• Ultra-low latency

• Proximity

• High bandwidth

• Real-time insight into network and context information

• Location awareness

3 © Nokia 2017

MEC extends the cloud to where people and objects connectWhy edge computing?

• Better user experience

• Network-based service innovation

• Innovative services towards subscribers, enterprises and verticals

Distributed computing for intense, local tasks

Real-time delivery of live and on-demand content

Apps with unmatched interactivity

IoT analytics at the point of capture

Robust low latency for critical voice and data

4 © Nokia 2017

MEC

Business benefits

Business transformation A myriad of new use casesA new value chain and an

energized ecosystem, based on

Innovation and business value

Wider collaboration can help to

drive favorable market conditions

for sustainable business for all

players in the value chain.

New market segments (enterprises

and corporates, Internet-of-Things

and verticals, subscribers);

short innovation cycle;

revenue generation and

differentiation

Video acceleration, augmented

reality, connected vehicles, IoT

analytics, enterprise services,

network performance and utilization

optimization, retail, eHealth, etc.

5 © Nokia 2017

MEC deployment options

Flexible and scalable MEC brought to all locations

6 © Nokia 2017

MEC application: edge video orchestration

Create exciting live views for stadium visitors

• Live camera signals are locally ingested and played out to

visitors in real time.

• Visitors can select between different cameras, which are

presented in HD and SD quality levels.

• Distribution over unicast and broadcast (based on local eMBMS

gateway).

• Exciting service for event visitors, providing an immersive real

time experience: minimal delay from camera to device,

including encoding, play-out, decoding

• Video traffic does not put any strain on venue backhaul.

EPC

Mediaroom

Benefits

Use case

MEC

Stadium

eNodeB

7 © Nokia 2017

Multiple Access Management Services (MAMS*) and MEC

Loose coupling, Optimal path selection, Flexible user plane treatment

• Allows lightweight integration of different access technology domains.

• Example applications:

• Synergetic use of cellular network and local Wi-Fi network for optimum quality of experience to

enterprise and cellular applications without impact to LTE and Wi-Fi access infrastructure

• Allows combining MEC applications with high capacity local radio access for all venue visitors.

• Asymmetric Access link selection in UL and DL (e.g. LTE UL for extended Wi-Fi/5G DL usage)

• Dynamic and per-user best path selection based on network policies and link quality

measurements on user devices.

• Any access (5G/LTE/Wi-Fi) integration for enterprises, public venues and stadiums.

• Flexibility in choosing and dynamically adapting user plane treatment per traffic type

Benefits

Use case

CCM C-MADP

LTE 5G Small cell WLAN

MEC

Enterprise 5G core LTE core

NCMN-MADP

• Dynamic Access link information available at MEC using access node interfaces

• Provides overall access resource utilization view and network information like PRB

utilization, Handover Preparation, Congestion, CPU overload not available via individual UE

reports

• Real time reporting without impact to device and radio link resources

• RNI (Radio Network Information) API which augments MAMS traffic management performance by

real-time radio information based analytics.

MEC + MAMS : Unique Value Proposition

*draft-kanugovi-intarea-mams-protocol-05

8 © Nokia 2017

Use case

MEC application: throughput guidance for an optimal video experience

Developed and tested with Google, proposed for standardization to IETF

Real time upstream guidance

OTT source

Optimized downstream delivery

eNodeBs

• Best video experience as a differentiator

• Optimal use of network resources (including the air interface);

video delivery doesn’t choke the pipe

• Simple and completely non-intrusive optimization, also for

encrypted content.

• Computes real time throughput guidance for individual user

connections

• Guidance is sent within upstream user packets, no extra

signaling is required

• Largely eliminates the inefficiencies in mobile delivery today,

which are caused by sources being unable to gauge network

capacity

Benefits

Ref• draft-sprecher-mobile-tg-exposure-req-arch• draft-flinck-mobile-throughput-guidance

9 © Nokia 2017

MEC application: video analytics

• Full video monitoring system with pluggable analytics modules,

allowing allow real-time correlations and actions

• The analytics software supports different use cases and can be

easily adapted to different customer needs.

• Example: MEC is used for analyzing raw video streams from

surveillance cameras connected over LTE, and for

forwarding the relevant incidents to the city command

center. The camera streams can be broken out to the local

control room.

Benefits

Use case

• LTE-connected cameras provide lower cost of deployment

and greater flexibility, even for temporary events

• Reduces latency and relieve the burden on backhaul

• Video traffic stays local to comply with regulatory and legal

requirements

10 © Nokia 2017

MEC application: Augmented reality

Create an interactive „wow“ experience

• Quickly determine user location based on network data

• The local augmented reality (AR) server (running on a MEC host)

performs fast image recognition and subsequent delivery of

local AR contents.

• Automated content refresh between content on Mobile Edge

Computing and AR origin (cloud)

Small cell / Wi-Fi AP

• Enables unique experience with an unmatched degree of

interactivity

• Spontaneous discovery and delivery of locally relevant AR

content in public spaces (e.g. stadiums, malls, airports and train

stations)

AR originEPCMEC

Benefits

Venue Use case

11 © Nokia 2017

Use case

MEC application: Connected cars

Source: 360.HERE.com

See more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbPH3OGO2F4&feature=youtu.be

• Can satisfy the tight latency requirements of connected cars

communication which is particularly important for traffic

safety applications.

• Helps to improve road safety, efficiency and comfort

• New applications and service providers

• The MEC application used as a roadside unit for car-to-

infrastructure and enable real-time communication between

cars via the LTE cellular network.

• Road hazards (hand brake, accident, etc.) can be recognized

and warnings can be sent to nearby cars with extremely low

latency.

• Enables a nearby car to receive data in a matter of

milliseconds, and the driver to react instantly.

Benefits

The first public showcase of safety applications took

place at the "Digital A9 Motorway Test Bed“

(November 2015)

12 © Nokia 2017

MEC

A key technology and architectural concept for enabling the transformation to 5G

Founding members

Specified by the ETSI MEC Industry Specification Group (ISG)

An open and standardized IT service environment within the operator’s networks

Exposes real-time network and context information

Hosts third-party applications that can serve the vast majority of the population

Enables a new value-chain and fresh business segments

Compliance with regulatory and legal requirements

Stimulates innovation

13 © Nokia 2017

ETSI MEC phase 1 work

Focusing on application enablement & APIs

Application Enablement

(API Framework)

Specific service-related

APIs

Management and

Orchestration related APIs

API Principles

Facilitate the running of

applications at the correct

location at the right time, based

on technical and business

parameters

Services expose network and

context information via specific

service-related APIs.

A different set of services may

be applicable at different

locations

A framework for delivering

services which may be

consumed or offered by (locally

hosted or remote) authorized

applications. It enables:

• registration, announcement,

discovery and notification of

services;

• authentication and

authorization of applications

providing and consuming

services;

• communication support for

services (query/response and

notifications).

A set of API principles and

guidance for developing and

documenting APIs inside or

outside ETSI which ensures that

a consistent set of APIs are

used by developers.

The work was inspired by the

TMF and OMA best practices.

The APIs are designed to be

application-developer friendly

and easy to implement so as to

stimulate innovation and foster

the development of applications.

14 © Nokia 2017

Let’s reflect on the (fundamental) phase 1 work status…

Published

▪ Technical Requirements, including use cases

(GS MEC 002)

▪ Framework and Reference Architecture (GS

MEC 003)

▪ Terminology (GS MEC 001)

Under final review

Work Items relating to the MEC APIs, management

interfaces and essential platform functionality:

• MEC API principles and guidelines (MEC-009)

• MEC System, Host and Platform level management

(MEC-010-1)

• MEC Application lifecycle, rules and requirements

management (MEC-010-2)

• MEC Platform Application Enablement (MEC-011)

• MEC Radio Network Information API (MEC-012)

• MEC Location API (MEC-013)

15 © Nokia 2017© Nokia 2016

Phase 2 objectives

Support 3GPP and

non-3GPP access

technologies (WiFi and

fixed)

Disseminate the

results of the work;

strengthen

collaboration with

other organizations

Expedite the

development of

innovative

applications; ensure a

low entry barrier

Expend the

virtualization support

types (to render the

environment as

attractive as possible

for third-parties)

Study new use cases

Study possible new

charging models which

may be applicable to

MEC

Develop testing

specifications and test

methodologies;

Coordinate PlugTests

Fill gaps relating to

lawful interception

Enable MEC

deployments in NFV

environments

Coordinate

experimentation and

showcasing of MEC

solutions

From

Mobile Edge Computing

To

Multi-access Edge Computing

16 © Nokia 2017

Epilogue

MEC has created great momentum in the industry, adding a new dimension and paving the way towards new opportunities.

MEC is evolving into a key building block in the evolution of the networks, complementing NFV and SDN.

• MEC is identified as a key enabler for IoT and mission-critical, vertical solutions.

• MEC is widely recognized as one of the key architectural concepts and technologies for 5G.

• MEC enables a myriad of new use cases across multiple sectors as well as innovative business opportunities.

The phase 2 work 2 will extend the applicability of the MEC technology and render the MEC environment even more attractive to third-party application developers.

17 © Nokia 2017

Thank You!