Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) is a novel edge computing paradigm that moves cloud-based processing and storage capabilities closer to the mobile users by implementing server resources in the access nodes. MEC helps fulfill the stringent requirements of 5G and beyond networks to offer anytime-anywhere connectivity for many devices with ultra-low delay and huge bandwidths. Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is another prominent network technology that builds on a content-centric network architecture to overcome host-centric routing/operation shortcomings and to realize efficient pervasive and ubiquitous networking. It is envisaged to be employed in Future Internet including Beyond 5G (B5G) networks. The consolidation of ICN with MEC technology offers new opportunities to realize that vision and serve advanced use cases. However, various integration challenges are yet to be addressed to enable the wide-scale co-deployment of ICN with MEC in future networks. In this paper, we discuss and elaborate on ICN MEC integration to provide a comprehensive survey with a forward-looking perspective for Beyond 5G networks. In that regard, we deduce lessons learned from related works (for both 5G and Beyond 5G networks). We present ongoing standardization activities to highlight practical implications of such efforts. Moreover, we render key B5G use cases and highlight the role for ICN MEC integration for addressing their requirements. Finally, we layout research challenges and identify potential research directions. For this last contribution, we also provide a mapping of the latter to ICN integration challenges and use cases. 

Integration of ICN and MEC in 5G and Beyond Networks: Mutual Benefits, Use Cases, Challenges, Standardization, and Future Research

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) is a novel edge computing paradigm that moves cloudbased processing and storage capabilities closer to mobile users by implementing server resources in the access nodes. MEC helps fulfill the stringent requirements of 5G and beyond networks to offer anytimeanywhere connectivity for many devices with ultra-low delay and huge bandwidths. Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is another prominent network technology that builds on a content-centric network architecture to overcome host-centric routing/operation shortcomings and to realize efficient pervasive and ubiquitous networking. It is envisaged to be employed in Future Internet including Beyond 5G (B5G) networks. The consolidation of ICN with MEC technology offers new opportunities to realize that vision and serve advanced use cases. However, various integration challenges are yet to be addressed to enable the wide-scale co-deployment of ICN with MEC in future networks. In this paper, we discuss and elaborate on ICN MEC integration to provide a comprehensive survey with a forward-looking perspective for B5G networks. In that regard, we deduce lessons learned from related works (for both 5G and B5G networks). We present ongoing standardization activities to highlight practical implications of such efforts. Moreover, we render key B5G use cases and highlight the role for ICN MEC integration for addressing their requirements. Finally, we layout research challenges and identify potential research directions. For this last contribution, we also provide a mapping of the latter to ICN integration challenges and use cases.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/ielx7/8782661/8901158/09845700.pdf

Various real-time, latency-sensitive, and high-speed mobile applications are evolving as 5G applications. These applications are realized using Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies in the 5G system. MEC platform, MEC service, and MEC application are the main components of an MEC Framework. NFV Orchestrator, Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM), and virtualization technologies such as Virtual Machines (VM) and Containers are the main pillars of the NFV technology. In this paper, we study the impact of the virtualization technologies in the deployment of the MEC framework and its components while. We also study the impact of virtualization technologies on NFV and MEC KPIs such as onboarding time, instantiation time, MEC service and application response times. The experiments and its analysis show that containers perform better than VM to instantiate/terminate MEC components in the NFV framework. The observed MEC service KPIs show that the edge application’s performance will be improved to meet the QoE of the applications irrespective of the virtualization technology used. These results can be used as a reference while deploying the MEC components based on their granular functionalities.

Performance Study of Multi-access Edge Computing Deployment in a Virtualized Environment

Since multi‐access edge computing (MEC) was established as a key enabler of 5G, MEC based on 5G networks (5G MEC) has been perceived as a new business opportunity for many industry players, including telecom operators. Numerous 5G MEC cooperation announcements among companies playing their respective roles in the MEC ecosystem have been recently released. However, because of cooperative and competitive relationships among key players in the MEC ecosystem and the uncertainty of 5G MEC, the announcement of 5G MEC cooperation can negatively affect the telecom operators' firm value. This study investigates the market reaction to announcements of 5G MEC cooperation for telecom operators using an event study methodology. The empirical results show that announcements of 5G MEC cooperation have a negative impact on the telecom operators' firm value. The results also show that the early deployment of 5G networks may reduce the negative impact of 5G MEC cooperation announcements by reducing uncertainty.

The impact of 5G multi‐access edge computing cooperation announcement on the telecom operators' firm value

We study average performance and costs for routing service requests in a virtualized environment, where either the MEC or the Cloud can serve user's requests. Employing a simple yet precise analytical model validated via simulation, we focus on latency, service request losses, energy consumption, and provider utility. The model is very effective in providing insight and guidelines for setting up server selection strategies with different characteristics (e.g., energy consumption, penalties, etc.) and performance requirements. In particular, our results show that the MEC is latency-efficient but incurs higher costs than Cloud, and then, to make its use sustainable, it is desirable that the MEC server is powered with renewable source energy.

Efficiency of Virtualization over MEC plus Cloud

Multi-access edge computing (MEC) is an extension of cloud computing technology to provide an application deployment platform close to the end users.
This platform helps to deploy real-time, compute and resource-intensive applications like video caching, augmented reality, virtual reality, and Internet of Things at the edge. MEC enhances the performance of 4G and 5G networks since it achieves reduced application latency and optimizes the backhaul bandwidth utilization. Due to these benefits, MEC has become one of the key enablers of 5G technology. This paper covers evolution, architecture, current standardization activities, and use cases of MEC in cellular networks. The paper also emphasizes on how key enablers of 5G like software defined networking, network function virtualization, quality of service handling, and service based interface model will handle faster connectivity, huge data demand with less backhaul congestion, large number of devices and real-time applications as compared to MEC in 4G. Further, MEC deployment approaches in 4G and 5G are discussed, which play a vital role in achieving the requirement of 5G services.

Supriya Dilip Tambe

Papers

Multi-access edge computing in cellular networks

Performance Study of Multi-access Edge Computing Deployment in a Virtualized Environment