Verizon, Microsoft Officially Make Private Edge Compute Solution Available

Verizon and Microsoft have made their private 5G edge computing solution available.

Verizon’s Sampath Sowmyanarayan

Companies can now adopt the premises-based solution, dubbed Verizon 5G Edge with Microsoft Azure Stack Edge. It harnesses the non-standalone private network Verizon launched earlier this summer to provide private 5G and LTE connectivity.

As a result, they can utilize real-time storage, computing and security capabilities. The platform can also help manufacturers power augmented reality solutions.

“Our partnership with Microsoft brings 5G Edge to enterprises, dropping latency at the edge, helping critical, performance-impacting applications respond more quickly and efficiently,” Verizon Business chief revenue officer Sampath Sowmyanarayan said. “5G is ushering in next-generation business applications, from core connectivity to real-time edge compute and new applications and solutions that take advantage of AI transforming nearly every industry.”

Background

Microsoft’s Yousef Khalidi

The companies say the announcement builds off the partnership Microsoft and Verizon signed last fall. That deal promised to integrate Verizon mobile edge computing (MEC) solutions with Microsoft Azure for Operators. Logistics and supply chain provider Ice Mobility said at the time that it was testing the joint solution. Now Verizon has made the offering widely available.

“Business innovation demands powerful technology solutions and central to this is the intersection between the network and edge,” said Yousef Khalidi, Microsoft’s corporate vice president, Azure for Operators. “Through our partnership with Verizon, we are providing customers with powerful compute and storage service capabilities at the edge of customers’ networks, enabling robust application experiences with increased security.”

IDC research VP Ghassan Abdo said the solution represents a “positive development” for both companies.

“This announcement aligns with IDC’s view that an on-premises, private 5G edge compute deployment model will spur the growth of compelling 4th generation industrial use cases,” Abdo said.

Verizon shared a video use case of how Ice Mobility used the MEC solution.