Edge Computing in International Development

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There are many trends in digital development and the telecommunications industry that seem to indicate a growing role for edge computing in international development, including several I’ll discuss below.

The mobile industry is preparing for edge computing

In October 2020, 19 GSMA members formed the Telco Edge Cloud (TEC) taskforce to examine potential business models for edge computing. This is significant, as the GSMA is the global trade association for mobile network operators. While a lot of the TEC taskforce’s focus has to do with leveraging the emerging capacity of 5G cellular networks in denser population locations, it also includes business model considerations for remote locations. Since MNOs make their money from data charges, and edge computing can reduce the cost of data, these companies will need to adapt. The taskforce’s initial white paper, which proposes six potential revenue models, gives the impression of a group of oil company executives trying to figure out how to make money from solar and wind energy.

It’s already happening

The N50 project is a new and growing collaboration of france whatsapp number data companies and content providers working to develop and deploy edge solutions. Project members Intel, Africa Mobile Networks, Mwabu and Geeks Without Frontiers are already piloting an edge solution in the village of Luumbo, in Zambia’s rural Gwembe district. This proof-of-concept deployment aims to store health, education, agriculture and entertainment content on the edge device, and make it available without users having to use a mobile data connection such as 3G or 4G. Instead, they could access it via Wi-Fi. When describing the origin of N50, Intel’s Dan Gutwein, who manages the coalition, told me in an interview that he was struck by data in the GSMA State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2020 report that showed a significant part of the usage gap—i.e., low internet use by people in areas with a mobile data signal—was driven by a lack of relevant content in people’s local languages. Gutwein believes that, once people get accustomed to accessing useful content in their preferred languages freely, either from the edge server or via temporarily free mobile data, they will be willing to pay for data. “This is a business model issue … cloud providers moved to the edge a long time ago,” he explained, describing the standard industry practice of seeking efficiencies in content delivery by distributing select content via edge servers. “Only the last mile is new.”

Edge is ideal for open-source solutions

Quality open-source edge software already exists and is achieving uptake. For example, Magma, an open-source, edge-friendly mobile network-building software, continues to expand in usage. The platform offers the benefit of enabling connections between existing MNOs and new infrastructure providers, such as cell tower companies, in order to expand rural infrastructure. And in February 2021, the neutral Linux Foundation took over stewardship of the Magma project from Facebook, joining forces with other organizations to create the Magma Core Foundation, and adding several members. These developments may make users more comfortable working with this particular edge technology.