EDI CON Online: 5G and the Future of Low Latency Applications

The world is at an interesting juncture where we are consuming data at an ever increasing rate. With applications like IoT/ AR/VR/ cloud storage becoming more popular, the need for massive data transfer is imperative. 5G will be a big breakthrough on the several fronts especially where the requirements are around high network bandwidth, high network capacity and low latency. Any application that needs real-time data at a blazing fast speed will be a primary contender for 5G. Initial 5G applications will focus on delivering connectivity services for consumers looking for more speed. But, 5G is not only about the connectivity, it is much more beyond that. It will open the door for all sort of enterprise and industries applications that have not been explored due to non-real time nature of data and associated latency issues. 5G has been in field trials and starting commercial deployments. The entire eco-system and industry partners have collaborated to define, prototype, test and deliver 5G solutions. This includes working with enterprises in verticals like industrial, retail, energy, healthcare, sports, etc. and technologies like AR, VR, AI, ML, blockchain, etc. to embark on digital transformation. Edge computing drives a critical element of compute continuum from cloud to core to RAN (radio access network). Gartner expects 75% of the data will be stored, analyzed and acted on at the edge by 2025. As the data/analysis move much closer to the end devices/users with edge computing, it creates a distributed network of public/private cloud on and off Prem. This enhances 5G’s low latency appeal and open avenues for new revenue streams that have requirements of sub 5ms or even sub 1ms latency like sports wagering, real-time gaming, real-time secure transactions, remote surgery, real-time diagnostics, real-time manufacturing, etc. Due to better ROI and lower TCO, edge computing driven by 5G will create a win-win for enterprises, telecom service providers, cloud service providers, TEMs and other ecosystem partners and accelerate the transformation.

Presenter Bio:
Caroline Chan is vice president in the Data Center Group and general manager of the group’s Network Business Incubator Division at Intel Corporation. She is responsible for driving new services running across the network infrastructure, working closely with network service cloud service providers and enterprises. Chan and her team will lead pathfinding of advanced technology solutions that are enabled and accelerated by 5G capabilities such as AI, machine learning, blockchain, data analytics, immersive media, cloud gaming, and others.

Chan was previously GM of Intel 5G Infrastructure Division. Since joining Intel in 2009, she has worked closely with telecommunications vendors, operators and application developers to advance strategy and marketing in virtual RAN, mini Cloud-RAN and mobile edge computing technologies. Before leading the 5G infrastructure division, she spent six years as director of wireless technology and strategy. In that position, Chan oversaw server CPU extension into Intel’s wireless infrastructure business, a role that encompassed investment strategy, CPU adoption and modification, marketing, and business development. Before joining Intel, Chan had a 15-year career at Nortel Networks Corp., culminating in her role as director of 4G wireless product management.

Chan holds bachelors and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, respectively. She serves on the board of the Telecom Infrastructure Project (TIP) and Automotive Edge Compute Consortium. Her contributions in the area of virtualized wireless radio access networks earned Chan an Intel Achievement Award in 2016. Chan was elected to be among the top 25 movers and shakers in the telecom industry 2018 by Fierce Telecom.