Stadiums gain ground as test beds for new edge computing
Stadiums gain ground as test beds for new edge computing: Edge computing is a developing concept in information technology that involves the utilization of local, on-site data processing capabilities.
Stadiums for sports and concerts, as well as other large event sites, are poised to become important locations for the usage of edge computing.
It is possible to run new digital services and applications that depend on high levels of performance (for example, high definition streaming video) or real-time data processing if it is possible to process data locally, at “the edge,” rather than sending it to a cloud data center for processing. This is made possible by the ability to process data locally (e.g. real-time data analytics related to a specific sports event).
Computing at the edge is already being deployed at stadiums and other big event venues throughout the world, including those in China, Qatar, the United States of America, Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. So far three big tendencies are evident:
Edge computing is best utilized in large public spaces like stadiums.
In the first place, the existing or intended use cases for edge computing within major event venues are quite extensive. These use cases include real-time data processing for crowd and stadium management, as well as the deployment of “audience experience” applications such as high definition (HD) video streaming, real-time player analytics, or applications based on virtual or augmented reality (VR/AR).
For instance, in order to provide audiences with streaming media and other forms of digital information, the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles utilizes edge computing and networking technologies provided by Cisco.
In the meantime, in Germany, Vodafone recently gave one thousand football fans the opportunity to try a new 5G app at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. Fans may use their cellphones to obtain real-time information and match statistics thanks to brand-new software that, in addition to operating on edge computing, uses the technology.
Second, early use cases that use edge computing illustrate a broader trend in which service providers engage with ecosystem partners and mix numerous technologies to allow genuine use cases. These early use cases highlight the importance of edge computing.
In Qatar, Ooredoo is collaborating with Dell Technologies and Ericsson to enhance the edge computing capabilities and 5G network capacity of the venues that will play host to the 2022 World Cup events.
These sites are located in Qatar. Telstra is collaborating with Google and Accenture to provide new “virtual experiences” to the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. These “virtual experiences” will be built on edge technology as well as other technologies.
And in the United States, Verizon has recently teamed with Extreme Networks to target new technology opportunities at stadiums by utilizing a combination of 5G, high-density Wi-Fi, and multi-access edge computing. These technologies will be used to target emerging technology opportunities (MEC).
Enabling technology
These examples illustrate a further significant point, which is that edge computing is typically implemented within sports stadiums and other major venues as an enabling technology alongside other technologies, such as 5G or Wi-Fi 6 networking, IPTV, VR/AR, or Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for data collection. This is because edge computing allows for more efficient use of bandwidth and other resources.
In conclusion, the majority of the currently available applications of edge computing in large event arenas remain in their infancy, with some applications still in the testing phase.
For instance, Orange Business Services is conducting trials in the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France, to investigate the viability of various use cases that will mix the most recent iterations of 5G, edge computing, and Internet of Things technology.
These will include crowd management, facility management, and novel audience experiences that may also leverage 8K video streaming and VR/AR headsets. Managing the crowd will also be one of these responsibilities.
During this time, Intel, China Unicom, Nokia, and Tencent Cloud have been collaborating in China to test out MEC-based Edge Video Orchestration services at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. In the event that some of these early use cases of edge computing prove to be successful, there is a good chance that they will either be enhanced to accommodate more complex use cases or reproduced elsewhere in other large venues.