Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1284149
38 I ICT TODAY Radio Site Increasing size of an edge Lower latency Core Site Access Site Aggregation Site FIGURE 2: Network-based edge locations size and latency. • Centralized Core or Cloud Sites: These network- based sites typically perform local data collection and processing, such as at central offices and internet exchanges. Considered high-value edge data centers, centralized core or cloud sites are typically large staffed facilities with higher avail- ability ratings and lower latency requirements. Figure 2 illustrates the relationship between latency and the network-based edge location size. • Establishment-Based Sites: These are typically small-to-medium size private-network driven EDCs that orchestrate transmission needs between access and aggregation sites, while performing local data collection and processing. They are typically located on premises, serving enterprise businesses, industrial sites, large retail establishments, financial sites, and transportation hubs. Given the critical nature of these spaces, special con- sideration must be taken to protect EDCs and the equip- ment and components that reside within them. To that end, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Edge Data Center Working Group is working to establish best practices for EDCs that include several of the While smaller than a typical data center, EDCs vary in size. They can be small micro-edge data centers with 1 to 8 racks (or cabinets) and a power draw of 6 to 8 kW/ rack, medium with 4 to 12 racks with a power draw of 8 to 12 kW/rack or large with 12 to 49 racks and a power draw of 12 to 14 kW/rack. Regardless of size, the most common types of EDCs include the following network and establishment-built sites: • Radio and Access Sites: These are small network- based EDCs with lower latency requirements, such as those located in containerized purpose-built shelters, cabinets or enclosures at a 5G cell tower, small cell location or other sites used for data collection and immediate or short-term data processing. These sites are often unmanned and self-contained. • Aggregation Sites: These are medium-to-large network-based EDCs that are typically comprised of multiple access networks and located at a point prior to traffic being routed to the regional data center, such as meet-me-rooms for carrier hando- ver points. Their primary purpose is user data col- lection, data aggregation, and analytic processing and transmission. In some cases, aggregation sites may require the deployment of containerized or purpose-built, prefabricated edge data centers.