Verizon wheels a data center to the network edge

It’s not a COW, it’s not a COLT, it’s a data center on wheels! Verizon is adding a new vehicle to its fleet – the Mobile Onsite Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) unit.

While Cell on Wheels (COWs) and Cell on Light Trucks (COLTS) utilize radio access technology to provide temporary network connectivity at venues or during natural disasters, the Mobile Onsite NaaS is “the whole data center on a small trailer,” explained Carlo Thompson, distinguished engineer of systems architecture for Verizon.

“It’s a small, portable, edge-based network that we’re using as-a-service to provide 5G, edge compute, security and connectivity to locations that are in need of that type of service,” said Thompson.

Verizon’s first deployment of the portable ten-foot trailer is at customer Lockheed Martin’s Waterton, Colorado, campus. The Mobile Onsite NaaS provides a private network, private MEC, SD-WAN and satellite connectivity to customer locations. It can be used as a Mobile Lab as-a-service to test enterprise applications and devices on a 5G standalone network.

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