Verizon previously announced Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft as partners in its cloud offerings, and now it’s added Google Cloud to that list.
The intent behind the Verizon 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge is to bring compute and storage services to the network edge to support real-time enterprise applications.
According to Verizon, its strategy to bring Google’s compute and storage services to the edge of the local network will enable the kinds of bandwidth and low latency needed to support real-time enterprise applications like autonomous mobile robots, intelligent logistics and factory automation.
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The companies expect that the combination of Verizon's private On Site 5G and private 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will enable enterprises in industries from retail to manufacturing to “unlock the power” of 5G and mobile edge computing and gain operational efficiencies, higher levels of security and reliability, and improved productivity.
Public 5G mobile edge for developers and enterprises is also part of the plan with Google, with the potential for developers to build and deploy applications at the edge of Verizon’s wireless network in various locations throughout the U.S., according to the carrier.
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“By working with partners like Google Cloud and Ericsson, we’re building the 5G edge compute ecosystem that will enable enterprises in many industries to benefit from having a completely dedicated private network and edge compute infrastructure on premise,” said Rima Qureshi, chief strategy officer at Verizon, in a statement. “5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will give our customers the ability to connect and manage a broad range of devices at scale and speed while also providing highly secure, near real-time connectivity.”
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, commented: “Through our planet-scale infrastructure, expertise in data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Google Cloud is enabling the rapid delivery and deployment of new services and applications. By bringing intelligence from data centers to the network edge, Verizon 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge will allow customers to build new cross-industry edge solutions, unlock new revenue models, and transform the next generation of customer experiences – whether they are AI-driven in-store operations, live inventory management on the factory floor, or more.”
Ericsson’s 5G smart factory
Ericsson is already queued to conduct a pilot 5G edge implementation using Google services at its 5G smart factory in Texas. The objective is to increase operational efficiency and streamline logistics at the factory.
The first trial use case involves Verizon's Sensor Intelligence solution, which means attaching a camera to an autonomous mobile robot that will scan packages to maintain inventory and location of indirect materials in the factory's warehouse.
Using computer vision, the robot will communicate the bar code and shipping label data via 5G and mobile edge computing to the inventory management system, providing real-time analytics to improve logistics.