Will mobile operator interest in multi access edge computing drive less revenue and strategic upside than hoped for? That would not be an unusual outcome for telco initiatives generally, but especially when considering moves outside their core connectivity services domain.
In principle, edge computing as a service could allow mobile operators to assume new roles in the computing ecosystem, in addition to the connectivity role. Some mobile operators have tried to operate their own neutral host data centers, for example. Some still do.
AT&T briefly tried to become a computing supplier in the 1980s with its NCR acquisition.
At least for the moment, tier-one telcos have eschewed the effort and risk of becoming "edge computing as a service" providers and instead are banking on advantages related to the core connectivity role and some incremental revenue or value as providers of real estate (racks, power, cooling, security).
While clearly less risky and capital consumptive, such partnerships might not drive large amounts of incremental revenue, though, as always, edge computing roles could support their connectivity revenues, and create some amount of real estate incremental revenue.
One might argue that is about the best they can hope for, at the moment.
Though other roles might eventually emerge, the immediate tack seems to include an acknowledgement that the opportunity to become “edge computing as a service” suppliers is highly limited, if possible at all.
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