The 5G Future Forum, an operator-led group formed earlier this year, released a pair of technical specifications for multi-access edge computing (MEC). 

The new blueprints define intent-based APIs for edge and workload discovery and aim to enable hyperscalers and service providers to deploy and integrate the MEC frameworks into their physical infrastructure. 

Verizon, which is leading the effort alongside América Móvil, KT, Rogers, Telstra, and Vodafone, plans to deploy services based on the new specifications within the next six months, according to a spokesperson.

Verizon Plans Integration With AWS Wavelength

Verizon 5G Edge, a service paired with Amazon Web Services’ (AWS’) Wavelength edge compute offering that went live in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month, will also benefit from the forum’s work in establishing a consistent and interoperable framework for the industry, the Verizon spokesperson added. 

The group said it is also drafting plans to make the specifications available to non-members. Industry analysts’ reactions to this operator-led approach to MEC are mixed. 

The absence of cloud providers indicates that the operators are pushing a framework without hyperscalers’ input or influence, according to Chris Nicoll, an independent analyst. “Any serious effort to create a comprehensive ecosystem of diverse players needs to include the diverse players,” he said. 

Effort Lacks Cloud Providers Input

“Instead, this looks a lot like the telcos saying to the cloud providers, ‘here is how we think you should work with us,’” Nicoll said. 

Conversely, Rajesh Ghai, research director of carrier network infrastructure at IDG, reads the effort as a genuine attempt to enable a broader ecosystem spanning service providers, hyperscalers, and enterprises. “The MEC is still in a very early stage of its evolution and having a set of specifications that all industry players can work towards will accelerate its deployment and success,” Ghai said. 

Nicoll notes that the 5G Future Forum’s work to date also “falls short of overcoming the technical, service, and business gaps between the cloud service providers and the traditional telcos.” Moreover, he added, “it does not identify a specific problem that is holding back the cloud providers, at least at the moment.”

Allowing forum members to more effectively support multi-national MEC customers in outside regions, by partnering with other forum members, is the greatest benefit, according to Steve Vachon, analyst at Technology Business Research. “Verizon will be more equipped to support MEC enterprise customers with European operations by leveraging Vodafone’s 5G network,” he said. 

"Cloud providers will be generally willing to comply with the 5G Future Forum due to the necessity of partnering with telecom operators for 5G connectivity,” Vachon said, noting that operators also provide a “vital role” for MEC in the form of real estate. However, there might be some resistance if the specifications conflict with cloud providers’ established APIs, he added.

A set of specifications that will work across several service providers is likely to be welcomed and adopted by hyperscalers because it makes the process more efficient and frees them from developing unique specifications for each service provider, according to Ghai. 

Timing Out of Sync

He and Nicoll also disagree on the timing of the 5G Future Forum’s endeavor. Ghai contends that the timing is right because MEC investment is still early, and with Verizon playing a key role the initiative is likely operating with “express knowledge of AWS” and other cloud providers.

The diverse ecosystems, some of which are proprietary, involved in MEC is a huge problem and as a result, standard specifications are not advancing quickly enough, according to Nicoll. “Too many partnerships, too many initiatives, too many independent activities,” he said. 

“Where are the tower players in this, for example?” Nicoll said. “Eight months later, this is still hosted on Verizon’s website, and specs for non-members are still not available. So, no, this is not moving fast enough. This is moving at telco speed, not cloud speed.”

Indeed, the last time Verizon organized a 5G association it led to the creation of a proprietary, pre-standards based technology. That effort allowed the company to claim it was the first operator to launch 5G, a limited fixed wireless offering.

Verizon has since effectively abandoned that proprietary technology in favor of standardized 5G equipment, and the website for that group, the 5G Tech Forum, is now defunct.