Many experts believe enterprises will deploy edge platforms and 5G wireless communications together in the coming years. A recent article from The Enterprisers Project indicates that the “next big thing” will be private 5G networks. 5G adds ultra-reliable, low-latency communication (URLLC) that has previously only been offered on Class-C Ethernet technology.
With increased data transfer speeds, decreased latency and higher capacity of 5G technology, factories will be able to scale without relying on proprietary industrial Ethernet protocols via standard wired network infrastructures. Combining edge computing with 5G will allow more flexibility in on-premise deployments by extending the range and reach of data collection to assets normally unreachable through wired deployments or bandwidth constraints.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions depend on edge computing and will continue to require an IoT platform to integrate legacy equipment into new and developing solutions. The importance of device level data acquisition will continue to be critical in scaling solutions across this heterogenous mix of complex IT and OT protocols in manufacturing and industrial environments.