Think Digital Conference: IBM and Red Hat launch edge computing solutions for 5G

ARMONK, N.Y., May 5, 2020 – IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced at its Think Digital conference new services and solutions based on an extensive partner ecosystem to help enterprises and telecommunications companies in 5G. The era is accelerating towards edge computing. The new services and solutions launched combine IBM's experience and expertise in multi-cloud environments with Red Hat's industry-leading open source technologies. IBM completed one of the largest technology acquisitions in history last year, making Red Hat part of IBM.

For global enterprises, the rollout of wireless 5G telecommunications networks will enable extremely high-speed, low-latency and minimal transmission delay connections for mobile data, all designed to accelerate edge computing applications. With new edge services, IBM Business Partners and IBM multi-cloud solutions, enterprises will be able to harness the potential of 5G to support critical applications like emergency response, robotic surgery or connected vehicle safety features without having to send workloads to The central cloud, thus avoiding the current delay in milliseconds.

"In today's uncertain environment, our customers are looking to differentiate themselves by creating user experiences that are more innovative, responsive, adaptable, and continuously available," said Denis Kennelly, general manager of IBM's hybrid cloud division. Unique value—from the data center to the edge. IBM helps clients unlock the full potential of edge computing and 5G with hybrid multicloud solutions that combine Red Hat OpenShift and our industry expertise like no other company can way to meet the needs of the business.”

1. IBM's new edge computing solution

IBM's new solution runs on Red Hat OpenShift, the leading enterprise-grade Kubernetes platform that runs anywhere—from the data center to multiple public clouds to the edge. With these solutions, enterprises can overcome the complexities of managing workloads across massive amounts of equipment from different vendors, while giving telcos the flexibility they need to quickly deliver edge-enabled services to their customers. Customers across all industries can now take advantage of edge computing, including running artificial intelligence and analytics at the edge to gain insights wherever workloads are generated. New solutions include:

(1) IBM Edge Application Manager (IBM Edge Application Manager) - This self-management solution is used to support the deployment and remote management of artificial intelligence, analytics and IoT enterprise workloads, conduct large-scale real-time analysis, and gain depth Analyze the results. With this solution, a single administrator can manage up to 10,000 edge nodes at the same time. [Performance testing of IBM Edge Application Manager shows that 10,000 agents were registered to an IBM Edge Application Manager center after executing a command using patterns and policies. ] This is the first solution powered by Open Horizon, the groundbreaking open source project created by IBM engineers to enable just one person to securely manage vast networks of edge devices.

(2) IBM Telco Network Cloud Manager (IBM Telco Network Cloud Manager) - This new solution provided by IBM and powered by Red Hat technology provides intelligent automation capabilities to orchestrate virtual and container network functions in minutes. As 5G adoption expands, service providers must have the ability to manage workloads on both the Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat OpenStack platforms, and telcos are increasingly looking for ways to build more agile and efficient modern networks to deliver new services, so this capability is especially critical for them.

(3) A portfolio of edge computing-enabled applications and services, including IBM Visual Insights, IBM Maximo Production Optimization, IBM Connected Manufacturing, IBM Asset Optimization, IBM Maximo Worker Insights, and IBM Visual Inspector. With these applications and services, customers have the flexibility to deploy AI and cognitive applications and services at scale.

(4) The newly established IBM Services team, which focuses on edge computing and telecom network cloud business, leverages IBM's deep technology and industry expertise to provide 5G and edge-related solutions to customers in various industries.

In addition, IBM also released the IBM Edge Ecosystem (IBM Edge Ecosystem). Through this ecosystem, more and more ISVs, GSIs, etc. will provide various solutions based on IBM's technology to help enterprises seize the opportunities of edge computing. The IBM Telco Network Cloud Ecosystem (IBM Telco Network Cloud Ecosystem) built by IBM has gathered many partners in the telecom industry. These partners' rich network functions can help suppliers deploy their network cloud platforms.

Members of this open ecosystem of device manufacturers, networking and IT vendors, and software vendors currently include Cisco, Dell, Juniper Networks (Juniper Networks), Intel, Nvidia, Samsung, Equinix's Packet (Packet, an Equinix company), Hazelcast, Sysdig, Turbonomic, Portworx, Humio, Indra Minsait, Eurotech, Arrow Electronics, ADLINK, Acromove, Geniatech, SmartCone, CloudHedge, Altiostar, Metaswitch, F5 Networks and ADVA.

2. Vodafone began to cooperate with IBM

Enterprises already working with IBM to deploy edge computing technology include Vodafone Business, which is working with IBM to help improve worker safety and security at remote workplaces such as oil rigs, factories, warehouses, ports and mines. work efficiency. Combining Vodafone Mobile Proprietary Network, IBM Edge Application Manager and Red Hat OpenShift, new solution uses technologies such as sensors, artificial intelligence and predictive and video analytics to understand and respond to events within milliseconds to keep workers safe .

Vinod Kumar, CEO, Vodafone Business, said: “At Vodafone Business, our number one goal is to keep our customers and their employees connected and safe – whether working remotely or from remote locations. On the Vodafone Mobile Proprietary Network Powered by AI, IBM edge computing and artificial intelligence technologies, companies can oversee operations in even the most remote workplaces, where moving quickly can mean the difference between survival and disaster.”

3. Cooperation between IBM Edge Intelligence and Samsung

Samsung is collaborating with IBM and telecommunications provider M1 to develop and test Industry 4.0 solutions for Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) using 5G and edge computing technologies.

KC Choi, executive vice president of global B2B sales at Samsung Electronics, said: "5G and edge computing will bring many major innovations to manufacturers, and 5G networks will enable mobile phones and devices at the edge to provide new artificial intelligence-based improvements, including Improve quality, work efficiency, safety, etc. However, in the manufacturing environment, it is very complex to efficiently manage the connection of a large number of devices and sensors at scale. In order to meet this challenge and realize the innovation of Industry 4.0 scale, we are Collaborate to make the most of IBM's edge computing and artificial intelligence solutions and Samsung's end-to-end 5G network platform and mobile devices. Together, we will launch new 5G-enabled solutions that leverage voice and video insights and augmented reality Detect abnormalities that may occur throughout the manufacturing process in a timely manner.”

Equinix is building a reference architecture to apply the IBM Cloud Paks ecosystem to the edge of the network. With its interconnected Edge Metal infrastructure powered by Packet Bare Metal technology, along with Red Hat OpenShift and IBM Edge Application Manager, enterprises can build edge applications once and deploy them anywhere.

"Partnering with IBM on our Edge Metal Private Beta is a perfect example of how collaboration enables enterprises to take advantage of hybrid cloud to handle low latency," said Zac Smith, general manager of Equinix's Bare Metal business. use cases. Our interconnected automated bare metal technology, combined with edge computing and hybrid multi-cloud solutions from IBM and Red Hat, can help our customers innovate quickly at the edge of the network. Our Metro Edge locations will also integrate remote on-premises locations Migrate point (edge in) or from the cloud (cloud out) and still stay close enough to where data is generated and actions are taken, thereby reducing latency, avoiding bandwidth constraints, and maintaining a high level of operational resiliency.”