Communications and information technology company Nokia has successfully tested applications based on Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC).
The software, which was developed in collaboration with the Wireless Institute in the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame in the US, delivers flexibility, scalability and efficiency to networks with multiple base stations in order to improve speed of access to data services in congested areas.
The Compton Ice Arena at Notre Dame took part in the live tests in which it hoped it could translate the findings to the university’s American football stadium.
The stadium hosts more than 80,000 fans at football games six or seven times during its season, meaning people are experiencing poor coverage issues.
Nokia and Notre Dame’s Wireless Institute set out to test Wi-Fi with two MEC-based applications. These are Edge Video Orchestration (EVO), which provides options to view four video streams from different angles in real time, with a less than 500-millisecond delay, as well as Augmented Reality (AR), which is an AR-based gaming experience where information can be overlaid on devices over streamed video.
The trial also tested the MEC applications with a feature-enabling connective to multiple radios, optimising data flow through Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The test found that the technology can significantly improve data throughout venues with high volumes of usage.
Nicholas Laneman, co-director of the Wireless Institute, University of Notre Dame, said: “With the advent of disruptive mobile technologies, we are delighted to see both Notre Dame and South Bend as a destination for these types of demonstrations.
Joe Hammer, global alliance director for Nokia, added: “Mobile Edge Computing is ideal for enabling low-latency applications tailored to specific enterprise needs such as those of the University of Notre Dame.
“MEC enables exciting new marketing opportunities for venues, smart cities and retailers to provide digital advertising, customised services or enhanced user experiences. Nokia, with strategic partners such as IBM, can leverage MEC to analyse customers’ preferences and behaviours with cognitive analytics.
“By deploying applications at the network edge, rich, engaging content is brought closer to consumers, application response times are reduced while reliability is increased – all of these benefits offer a truly excellent user experience.”
Image: MC1 Daniel Hinton
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