SK, Amazon team up on mobile edge cloud service

SK Telecom plans to provide a mobile edge cloud service built upon 5G wireless technology within this year in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Mobile edge computing (MEC) refers to a technology that brings computation and data storage closer to the devices being used — considered a critical technique to reduce latency on 5G.

SK Telecom Vice President Ryu Young-sang, who heads the company’s mobile network operator business, announced the plan Wednesday in a webinar hosted by AWS.

Conventional cloud computing occurs on remote servers in a data center, typically far from the user and their device.

The new system would allow processes to take place in closer proximity to the actual users, being situated in base stations, offices and other locations.

By switching the load of cloud computing to individual servers, edge computing allows for reduced congestion and latency, the company said.

When combined with edge computing, the latency of 5G could be reduced by up to 60 percent.

SK Telecom plans to lend its expertise to AWS’s technology, Wavelength.
Ryu said that the carrier is already in discussions with major companies for potential applications of the 5G-powered mobile edge computing.

“SK Telecom is developing cloud business models with leading corporations based on the 5G MEC technology and platform,” he said.

The company said the service could be available for a range of industries, including manufacturing, health care, gaming and media.

Multiple telecom companies across the globe, including Verizon in the United States, are vying to provide 5G-based mobile edge computing.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]