Vodafone is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to roll out Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC) services, based on AWS Wavelength to Vodafone UK's business customers and software developers.
AWS Wavelength brings AWS compute and storage services to the edge of the operator’s mobile 4G/5G network, which benefits applications that require “increased speeds, massive bandwidth, and ultra-low latency”.
The system has been trialled by 180 companies in various industries, including sports technology, autonomous transport, biometric security, remote virtual reality, and factory automation.
One of the companies involved in the trial programme was sports technology provider Sportable, which reported that its average latency dropped from 221.87 to 36.55 milliseconds.
“By combining AWS Wavelength and Vodafone 5G, businesses and applications developers can now leverage the full breadth of AWS cloud services right at the edge of 5G networks,” said George Elissaios, general manager of AWS Wavelength and director of product management at AWS.
“This enables Wavelength customers to explore new business opportunities, build applications and services that were not possible before, and transform user experiences in the UK,” he added.
Vodafone UK business director Anne Sheehan said that Edge Compute and 5G is a “combination no other service provider can deliver in Europe”.
“We are taking our business beyond the traditional boundaries of telecoms connectivity services so that we can bring customers amazing new services,” Sheehan said.
“We’ve already seen new services being developed by our trialists – the potential for completely new ideas enabled by this combination is massive,” she added.
The new service is available to customers across London and the surrounding areas, as well as towns and cities including Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Cardiff.
In the MEC coverage zones, in optimum conditions, latency can be reduced to as low as 10 milliseconds Round Trip Time (RTT) between the base station and MEC infrastructure, the company said.
Vodafone said it plans to extend the service to customers in Scotland and the northern regions of England next year, with other areas being added at a later date.
Germany will also receive general availability later this year, with trials still currently underway.
