Radio Site
38 I ICT TODAY
Access Site Aggregation Core Site
Increasing size of an edge
Lower latency
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 availability
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 consideration
must be taken to protect EDCs and the equipment
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 handover
points. Their primary purpose is user data collection,
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.