Wendy Shearer, Director of Smart Cities and Ecosystems at Pulsant, discusses regional revitalisation in the UK and how new business development will only be augmented by Edge infrastructure.
With the UK economy facing challenges, the tech sector has taken centre stage as a key driver of growth. The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to ‘levelling up’ and leveraging investment zones to stimulate growth across the country. Meanwhile, leaders such as the Chancellor, Leader of the Opposition and Governor of the Bank of England converged at the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in May, stressing the pivotal role of technology, particularly AI, in thriving in the digital age.
To achieve this, a collaborative approach is required, involving devolved and local administrations working alongside regional partners to foster a more balanced economic landscape. Manchester, renowned as the UK’s premier digital Tech City, boasts a thriving £5 billion digital ecosystem and is a beacon for what can already be achieved. Looking to the future, Greater Manchester Council has also outlined a visionary digital strategy, aiming to lead by example through the delivery of digital solutions in partnership with the evolving regional ecosystem.
But how can we replicate this success on a national scale? By harnessing emerging technologies, how can Manchester, and other regional tech hubs, accelerate their development even further? And what does it mean for the data centre industry? One thing is certain – the exponential growth of data and its aggregation, processing and modelling will continue unabated. Achieving regeneration requires not only entrepreneurial talent, confidence and access to capital but also a robust regional digital infrastructure capable of effectively managing the ever-expanding volume of data.
In essence, digital infrastructure should be seen as the fourth utility, underpinning the data-driven economy. And in the ever-evolving digital landscape, a new force has emerged as the linchpin of regional growth and innovation in the form of Edge data centres – which will unlock new opportunities for existing and revolutionising tech hubs.
Edge data centres are essential enablers
Edge data centres are the essential enablers of IoT, AI and advanced applications in regional contexts. Imagine a world where data flows seamlessly, businesses thrive and communities flourish, all made possible by the strategic placement of data infrastructure.
To understand the significance of Edge Computing, we must recognise the insatiable appetite for data. The proliferation of devices, the vast array of industrial and commercial IoT systems and the relentless march of AI all rely on copious amounts of data to reach their full potential. To harness this data most efficiently, businesses require access to digital infrastructure that can handle the demands of the digital age.
Enter Edge Computing – bringing data and computing closer to the source. By establishing networks of regional data centres, high-speed connectivity and networking can be extended to even the most remote areas. This means that data processing can happen locally, reducing the need for large-scale data transfers across vast networks.
An end to regional data inequality
But it’s not just about powering the existing players. This transformative shift in regional data accessibility dismantles the notion that businesses right the way across the UK cannot access the speed, connectivity and localised processing required for advanced applications. In fact, it opens a world of possibilities for businesses that traditionally did not consider themselves part of the tech sector. With new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) capabilities at their fingertips, these businesses can now revolutionise their performance and create entirely new revenue streams.
Think about it. Edge Computing paves the way for video analytics, enabling remote monitoring of transportation, crowds and buildings. Highly automated smart ports become a reality through the power of leveraging 5G and IoT. Warehouse management, mining operations and refining processes achieve unprecedented efficiency with sophisticated automation, monitoring and predictive maintenance. This means that complex discrete manufacturing, heavily automated construction and fully autonomous processes can be seamlessly implemented across regional locations, minimising human risk.
The benefits don’t stop there. Regional logistics hubs can tap into expanded capabilities within complex supply chains, while smart agricultural technologies revolutionise the industry, improving yields and sustainability. Edge infrastructure becomes the bedrock of new models of healthcare, facilitating remote diagnosis and monitoring solutions that bring medical expertise to even the most remote areas. Designers and engineers collaborate seamlessly in real-time, transcending physical boundaries. Public services, from healthcare to car parking and waste collection, maximise their efficiency through the power of Edge infrastructure.
The development of Edge ecosystems
This transformative power of Edge Computing is facilitated by the development of Edge ecosystems – a bridge connecting on-premise and public cloud locations. These regional ecosystems foster collaboration between local authorities and specialised infrastructure, transport, health and content delivery providers. By combining local knowledge and expertise with global connections, these ecosystems become hotbeds of innovation and growth.
Data centres and their teams now play a pivotal role in facilitating connections between software providers and clients, empowering clients to unlock the value of their data. As application-builders converge with businesses in need of those solutions, collaborative partnerships are forged, driving collective success. While large enterprises may rely on systems integrators to handle their IT, it is crucial for regional small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their own solutions in collaboration with regional Edge providers, fostering homegrown innovation.
Edge infrastructure is a necessity to expand digital access to citizens and consumers. While high-speed network rollouts remain a priority, equal attention and investment must be devoted to the applications and infrastructure that drive utilisation. Collaboration between the public and private sectors becomes paramount, ensuring that all regions have equal access to the transformative power of Edge infrastructure. By delivering benefits to citizens more rapidly and empowering regional UK tech businesses to develop globally competitive solutions, this collaboration becomes the key to regional regeneration.
The rise of Edge data centres marks a pivotal moment in regional growth and innovation. With their ability to unleash the true potential of IoT, AI and advanced applications, they pave the way for a future where businesses thrive, communities flourish and opportunities abound. By bridging the gap between data and its processing, Edge data centres become the drivers of regional regeneration, propelling the UK into a new era of digital excellence and prosperity while elevating the quality of life for all.
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