Verizon Business and IBM will work together on 5G and edge computing innovation to enable the future of Industry 4.0.
The companies plan to combine the high speed and low latency of Verizon’s 5G and Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC) capabilities, IoT devices and sensors at the edge, and IBM’s expertise in AI, hybrid multicloud, edge computing, asset management and connected operations.
They plan to leverage Verizon’s wireless networks, including Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB) network, and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) capabilities, alongside Verizon’s ThingSpace IoT Platform and Critical Asset Sensor solution (CAS).
These will be jointly offered with IBM’s Maximo Monitor with IBM Watson and advanced analytics. The combined solutions could help clients detect, locate, diagnose and respond to system anomalies, monitor asset health and help predict failures in near real-time.
IBM and Verizon are also working on potential combined solutions for 5G and MEC-enabled use cases such as near real-time cognitive automation for the industrial environment. Edge computing’s decentralized architecture brings technology resources closer to where data is generated.
5G’s low latency, high download speeds and capacity can increase the number of devices that can be supported within the same geographic area, and the ability for organizations to interact with those devices in near real-time, with computing power in the proximity of the device. They will explore innovative new applications such as remote control robotics, near real-time cognitive video analysis and plant automation.
“The industrial sector is undergoing unprecedented transformation as companies begin to return to full-scale operations, aided by new technology to help reduce costs and increase productivity,” said Bob Lord, senior vice president, Cognitive Applications, Blockchain and Ecosystems, IBM.
Tami Erwin, CEO, Verizon Business, said: “Combining the high speed and low latency of Verizon’s 5G UWB Network and MEC capabilities with IBM’s expertise in AI and production automation can provide industrial innovation and can help companies increase automation, minimize waste, lower costs, and offer their own clients a better response time and customer experience.”
Verizon and IBM also plan to collaborate on potential joint solutions to address worker safety, predictive maintenance, product quality and production automation.
