NTT Data and Schneider Electric today announced a product that integrates edge, private 5G, IoT, and modular data centers to enable “anywhere” edge connectivity. This is a “first-of-its-kind joint innovation that enables enterprises to harness the power of edge computing,” the companies said in a press release.
This joint offering will help enterprises maximize energy efficiency and meet the demands of compute-intensive data center tasks such as generative AI (Gen AI), machine vision, predictive maintenance, and other AI inference applications at the edge. It is hoped that this will be possible.
This announcement comes as the artificial intelligence landscape continues to rapidly expand, with companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and IBM driving cutting-edge innovation across numerous enterprise use cases. At the heart of these innovations is an incredibly high demand for computational power, especially in the realm of large-scale AI models. Large-scale AI models are what enable the possibilities seen in today’s Gen AI, using “approximately 100 times more computational power than contemporaneous AI models,” according to the AI Now Institute.
Processing large datasets is highly complex, requiring heavy memory loads, huge storage capacities, and specialized infrastructure tools.These issues were the original impetus edge computingThis brings computation closer to the edge or data source, reducing the time it takes for data to travel back and forth between devices and centralized servers. This reduction in latency is critical for generative AI applications where real-time responsiveness is paramount.
Currently, only 1 in 3 organizations report using the majority (50% or more) of their data at the edge. the study IDG/Foundry, but that number is expected to grow.
A “holistic” solution that meets the evolving needs of the industry
“The future of digital transformation lies in processing the vast amounts of data generated by edge devices,” said Shahid Ahmed, vice president of new ventures and innovation at NTT Ltd. It emphasizes the importance. He added that this solution positions both companies to lead the way to a more connected and efficient digital world.
Central to this announcement is the integration of Schneiders Electric’s EcoStruxure. modular data center, NTT Data’s Edge-as-a-Service “offers end-to-end cloud and full management” Private 5G (P5G), securely transform your operations with IoT and edge computing. ” The companies say the combination “seamlessly integrates edge, P5G, IoT, and modular data centers to provide a comprehensive solution to meet the evolving needs of enterprises.”
Rob McKernan, president of Schneider Electric’s cloud and service provider segment, said the partnership aims to help “clients around the world deploy connected devices, specialized industrial solutions, and the right edge computing infrastructure, and especially Our goal is to help you gain valuable data insights in situations such as: IoT and emerging AI requirements. ”
In an era dominated by Industry 4.0, companies are facing unprecedented challenges. The collaboration between NTT Data and Schneider Electric aims to address these challenges head-on, ensuring seamless connectivity, high bandwidth, and secure low-latency connectivity through edge data centers.
Recent study A survey by NTT, Omdia, and Intel found that 88% of respondents cited 5G as a key enabler for their strategic initiatives, with companies that combined private 5G and edge reporting the highest benefits. I did. Additionally, an overwhelming 93% believe edge is a competitive advantage. But while more than 80% of technology decision makers say their expectations for edge investments are being met or exceeded, many believe that the rapid pace of technology evolution We are concerned that there may be losses in the long run.
Four years ago, Camille Mendler, Chief Analyst of Enterprise Services at Omdia, emphasized the importance of: Invest in digital resources at the edge“If you need autonomous capabilities, if you need resiliency, all of that happens at the edge, and often those decisions need to be made within 5 milliseconds, so make decisions now. This partnership between NTT Data and Schneider Electric is consistent with Mr. Mendler’s assertions.
What is the impact?
Avi Baum, chief technology officer of a Tel Aviv-based AI chip manufacturing company Hiro,Tell you Data center knowledge Bringing AI innovation to the edge means positive impact in both the short and long term. In the consumer space, Baum says innovations like ChatGPT are allowing people to interact with machines in many different ways. Companies in the B2B world are also implementing AI-savvy products and services, such as optical inspection on production lines and robotics, he added.
According to Baum, what this partnership between NTT and Schneider Electric means for developed countries is that it will lead to improvements in machine uptime, manufacturing capacity, and precision in things like predictive maintenance.
“This type of partnership is perfect for building an open ecosystem that leverages the power of many innovators who are building for the future,” he added.
Marienpark, a large historic industrial park in Berlin, Germany, is already leveraging this joint innovation from NTT Data and Schneider Electric to provide enhanced connectivity and computing experiences for users across the campus. Masu. This is the first customer adoption of edge data. Center solution is now operational. This announcement comes on the heels of the momentum NTT Data is seeing in the P5G space with some of the world’s hottest brands, with a $500 million investment pipeline planned over the next few years.
NTT is collaborating with global leaders such as Schneider Electric, Celona, Cisco, Microsoft, VMware, Qualcomm, and SES to drive an ecosystem of innovation and “connect even the world’s most complex and remote customers.” “We are providing it,” he said.
