MWC19: Vertiv and 451 Research Survey Reveals More Than 90 Percent of Operators Fear Increasing Energy Costs for 5G and Edge

Vertiv,
together with technology analyst firm 451 Research, has released the
findings of an in-depth survey which reveals a good sense of optimism
about the services 5G will enable and the interplay with edge computing.
The majority of telecoms operators surveyed believe the 5G era will
start in earnest in 2021 in all geographies, with 88 percent of
respondents planning to deploy 5G in 2021-2022.

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Internal analysis by Vertiv shows that the move to 5G is likely to increase total network energy consumption by 150-170 percent by 2026, with the largest increases in macro, node and network data center areas. (Graphic: Business Wire)

However, more than 90 percent of respondents believe 5G will result in
higher energy costs and are interested in technologies and services that
improve efficiency. This is consistent with internal analysis by Vertiv,
which finds the move to 5G is likely to increase total network energy
consumption by 150-170 percent by 2026, with the largest increases in
macro, node and network data center areas.

The survey questioned more than 100 global telecoms operators about the
opportunities and potential obstacles of deploying 5G services and the
impact on edge computing adoption. Vertiv and 451 Research will provide
more detail on these findings as part of Vertiv’s
Partner Programme today at MWC19, from 3 p.m. CET, NEXTech Hall 8.0,
Theatre E. The programme includes a keynote from Vertiv on the
interdependent relationship between 5G and edge computing.

“The challenge for operators considering 5G will be choosing the most
mature use cases, verticals and eco-systems where they can play a
meaningful and sustainable role. The research Vertiv has undertaken into
edge computing use cases and archetypes, together with this latest
survey with 451, will help our operator customers and telecoms partners
to build more robust business cases for 5G investments and associated
edge compute deployments,” says Giordano Albertazzi, president for
Vertiv in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Regarding edge and 5G specifically, the survey reveals that a large
majority of operators have deployed (37 percent) or plan to deploy (47
percent) edge compute that is aligned with mobile infrastructure – also
called multi-access edge computing (MEC).

“This survey brings us clarity on telecom operators’ hopes and fears
around 5G and edge deployments,” says Brian Partridge, research vice
president for 451 Research. “The two toughest connectivity challenges
for supporting 5G topologies were revealed to be upgrading access and
aggregation layer networks and adding new backhaul links. Survey
respondents indicated that the availability of high quality connectivity
to distributed POPs and ease of site acquisition were viewed as the most
critical enablers to 5G success. We were frankly surprised by some of
these results and believe it brings clarity to the level of
transformation the industry now faces.”

In addition to this latest survey, Vertiv has been conducting extensive
research in the field, analyzing more than 100 use cases to define four
main edge computing archetypes and recently releasing the paper, “Turning
on 5G: Using Edge Archetypes to Identify the Most Mature Cases,” to
quantify the potential impact of specific 5G implementations.

As well as the important touch-points between 5G and edge computing, the
study from 451 Research and Vertiv examines some of the potential
obstacles to 5G adoption and, importantly, the measures operators can
take to mitigate them, such as Energy
Savings as a Service (ESaaS). According to the survey, more than 90
percent of respondents said they are either extremely or moderately
interested in ESaaS.

At last year’s MWC, Vertiv
developed a global ESaaS contract for Telefónica, covering all
facets from initial site assessment to comprehensive maintenance
services and fit-for-purpose infrastructure solutions for core and
access sites. Together with its partners and customers, Vertiv is
developing new infrastructure, software and services to help manage the
energy requirements associated with 5G and proactively optimize energy
use.

Don’t miss Vertiv’s
Partner Programme taking place this afternoon at MWC19, which
includes a press reception, for an opportunity to learn more and discuss
the results findings with 451 Research and Vertiv.

About Vertiv

Vertiv brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing
services to ensure its customers’ vital applications run continuously,
perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the
most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication
networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of
power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends
from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus,
Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 20,000 people and does business in more
than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and
content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.

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