Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1219491
32 I ICT TODAY of the data center closer to the device. This reduces the number of hops to process and return, shortens the dis- tance traveled, and ensures that the data travels on a less congested thoroughfare. It is also worth mentioning that there are sometimes reasons beyond latency to consider utilizing the edge. Such is the case with the aforemen- tioned video services. While they can tolerate a bit of latency, some of those services have chosen to host content at the edge to service densely populated clusters of users rather than utilizing bandwidth on longer distance paths. Figure 5 details a hypothetical example of a supermar- ket chain that illustrates how defining the edge is a con- tinual evolution. The example is purposely general and is not intended to demonstrate specific latency require- ments or physical distance of specific systems and equip- ment; its intention is to show a possible scenario of geo- graphical migration of the edge in response to emerging technologies. To accommodate the need for lower latency for critical data, the client chooses a multi-tenant edge facility (e.g., wholesale colocation data center, retail colocation data center) in southern Virginia because it is closer to store locations on the coast of North Carolina, thereby reducing latency. The hosting costs are much less than the core data center costs and that particular edge serves other services, such as supplier information, security and tech support. As technology advances, the client invests in a system that provides near real-time stock status, number of customers in a store, number of checkouts available, and other FIGURE 5: Locations of the core, fog, and EDC to accompany the hypothetical example of the continual evolution of the edge and to demonstrate a geographical migration of the edge as it may apply to emerging technologies. Atlanta, GA Hanover, VA OBX, NC Duck General Data Near Real Time Data Core Data Center Edge Data Center Near Edge Data Center (Fog) Ashburn, VA Old Trap Shiloh Atlanta, GA Hanover, VA Hanover, VA OBX, NC Duck OBX, NC General Data Near Real Time Data Critical Data Core Data Center Edge Data Center Near Edge Data Center (Fog) Ashburn, VA Old Trap Shiloh Atlanta, GA Hanover, VA Hanover, VA OBX, NC Duck OBX, NC General Data Near Real Time Data Critical Data Core Data Center Edge Data Center Near Edge Data Center (Fog) Ashburn, VA Old Trap Shiloh Micro Edge Data Center